England Spinning Downward

Pujara made 206x

It has been classical sub-continental cricket in Ahmedabad for the first two days of India's hosting of England and at stumps on day two, the Englishmen - whether by birth or circumstance - are feeling the weight of a continent crushing them into the dust.

India resumed with plenty and batted for another seventy overs to amass plenty more. Cheteshwar Pujara completed his transformation from a very good first class player with an appetite for big scores into a Test player with the same desires. In the commentary box, the man he replaced, Rahul Dravid, could barely contain himself ... a statement in itself for The Wall was and is a passionate man with a blank stare. Pujara batted for eight and a half hours virtually without blemish. Apart from one over from Swann, not long after he got to his hundred, when he edged the off spinner close to slip and was subject to a lbw shout, he never looked like getting out. Its an auspicious start for a 24 year old who already has fifteen first class hundreds to his credit, one of them a triple and the majority beyond 150.

Yuvraj Singh added 130 with Pujara for the fifth wicket and looked every bit the player of two seasons ago. He struck the ball well and took Swann on, despite that bowlers deserved reputation against left handers. He came unstuck when a rank full toss from Samit Patel stayed high on the bat and he lobbed the catch to Swann in the outfield. Ravi Ashwin stayed with Pujara to secure a total which allowed MS Dhoni plenty of leeway.

Graeme Swann was the only bowler who gave the Indians pause to think. He toiled away again in the first two sessions and picked up another Test five wicket haul when an out of sorts Dhoni under edged a sweep shot back onto his stumps. Pietersen, clearly not the best offie in world cricket, was never the less under used. A tall man, he often gets unexpected bounce and that might have been useful.

Ashwin took 2-21 before the close

The last session was a disaster for England. Starting their reply with an hour to go, Alastair Cook bristled with confidence, taking two fours in the opening over when off spinner Ashwin dropped short and another in the second over, when he pulled paceman Zaheer Khan behind square. At the other end, Nick Compton - grandson of one England's greatest - was playing his debut innings. He was solid and measured and was off the mark early with an inside edge off his pads which generated some excitement from Zaheer. He looked to be handling things nicely until  Pragyan Ohja came on.

Twice in as many overs, Ohja ripped balls past Compton's outside edge. The second one turned so much it was taken at first slip. Despite reassurance from Cook, it appeared to unsettled the former England Lions, Middlesex and Somerset opener. In Ashwin's next over, a big classic off break spun right through him and knocked him over. Perhaps he might have covered the spin more effectively but under these condition, with the ball beginning to go through the top, it would have bowled anyone.

Out strode the night watchman! I have typed myself hoarse on this topic but again, practice creates a far better argument. Jimmy Anderson lasted six balls, provided no relief for the next man inn and threw a wicket away. He had to face the bowlers with their tails up, where as, later in the innings they would be tired. It's a dumb piece of cricket and continues to make batsmen look feeble and precious. Batsmen are paid the bucks to bat and that's what they should do. Otherwise, in 40 degree heat, on a soft, dead track, fast bowlers should insist on a batsman bowling for them.

Ohja is a major threat to the Englishmen

In any event, Anderson popped a simple inside edge off his pads from Ohja to Gautam Gambhir at short leg.

Jonathan Trott became the third English wicket to fall in 13 deliveries when he went the same way as Anderson, this time caught by Pujara in the next over from Ashwin.

Kevin Pietersen looked busy from the start, hitting two fours from rank long hops in Yuvraj Singh's first over and then getting away from the strike as quickly as possible. Its a smart ploy against quality spin bowling to be constantly rotating the strike. Cook looked secure throughout England's late afternoon crisis but there is worse ahead.

The pitch is already eroding and puffs of dust became explosions by day's end. England will have every reason to sleep uneasily.