What A Wag!

Sehwag 117 - his 23rd ton

Virender Sehwag reversed the trend of the last two years with a run a ball hundred in the first Test against England at Ahmedabad. He crashed and blazed for fifty overs against an England pace attack which failed to come to terms with a dead and slow pitch which had no bounce. At the other end, Chet Pujara finished the day two runs short of what will be his second hundred for India, made in a more restrained 181 balls.

It has been 31 innings since the last Sehwag Test century - 173 against New Zealand, also on home soil - but England can thank Graeme Swann for ending it when he did. A full ball outside off stump turned just enough to avoid another audacious sweep shot and down went the castle. Thirteen of Sehwag's 23 centuries have gone beyond 150 - four of them doubles and two of them triples - so when he goes, he goes big. He loves sub continent wickets where there is no bounce to lift beyond the limited scope of his cross batted strokes and no cut or swing. He was greatly aided by poor bowling, which was short and wide of off stump and he went on his murderous way by default.

Gautam Gambhir has been his opening conspirator for a long time and today they were brilliant. By lunch they had 120 on the board and already Alastair Cook was short on answers. Even the confident Swann took a while to adjust to the conditions and Sehwag had swatted his way to 78 off just 65 deliveries. Had Gambhir not remained on strike so often (98 balls by lunch), Sehwag might well have had his hundred before lunch. The two overs after the break were representative of England's cricket over the whole day. Jimmy Anderson started after a short opening spell in the morning drew no more than disdain from former new ball ace. After the batsmen had swapped singles, Sehwag glided a leg glance well within Matt Prior's left hand reach and he floored one that should have been taken. Three balls later, Sehwag steered a poor ball outside off stump to the third man boundary. Anderson walked off with the world against him. Swann resumed at the other end, angling in to Gambhir and gave up a four to backward point as the batsman backed away. More air drew Gambhir forward next ball, out of his safety zone but Prior offended again, dropping the ball when the bails beckoned. Chastened, Gambhir resumed his backward movement and two balls later was bowled as Swann skidded one at off stump and he tried to play back and hit the ball, inside out, through cover.

Cook, at slip, undid one of the knots in his stomach.

Pujara made 98 by stumps

In came Pujara, the replacement number three for Rahul Dravid. Dravid had camped at three for more than two hundred Test innings (75% of his batting appearances) over a sixteen year career, scoring more than 10,000 runs at 52 in that batting position alone - oh and 210 catches, mostly at slip. In essence, he was probably second only to Bradman at three. Big shoes to fill.

On the basis of his display here, Pujara's a handy choice. What was required of him was the blunting of the England attack, particularly Swann and the provision of a stable foundation around which the stroke makers could build the India innings. He was off the mark with a cut for four, taking Swann forward of point as he dropped a tad short and spent the rest of the day playing shots when he wanted to. He is very compact off his legs and took boundaries from Bresnan every time he wandered there, which was often enough. Bresnan might have had him before he reached ten, but an out of sorts Anderson made all sorts of mess of a leading edge sent his way at mid on. The lanky opening bowler, renowned for his excellent fielding, especially in slip, ran in too far and let the ball pass harmlessly over his head. It was a Pietersenesque.

Pujara gave nothing else away.

90 was added with Sehwag, who with only a third of the strike, was starved for action and played poorly at Swann. Tendulkar came in and as he usually does these days, looked in a hurry to get on top of the bowlers and score quickly. He cut Anderson deliciously for four behind point but a slog-swept four off Swann looked adventurous just before tea. A few balls later, he was done by the flight of the ball and lobbed an easy catch to Samit Patel. To say England were happy would be to understate with ferocity. Cook undid a few more knots.

Swann 4-85

India added 73 after tea for the loss of Virat Kohli, a fourth victim for Swann and yet another batsman bowled. Swann's line is always zoning in at off stump and fifty percent of his wickets are either bowled or lbw. The "you miss I hit" theory still works. He was getting good turn by the last session. Exciting for him maybe but no so for an English batting line up which has been turned inside out by spin this year. The ball spun sharply back at Kohli but it must be said, there was a big gap to spin through.

Swann delivered for England. He was tight, consistent and bowled an impeccable line. His confidence appears to be back in place and he fooled his ways to wickets they way spinners should. The failure to select Monty Panesar will cost England the match. Tim Bresnan was always going to be an extravagance not worth the cost, especially as Cook can never be sure which Stuart Broad will turn up.

Yuvraj Singh and Pujara steadied the Indian innings in the last hour, adding 40 before the close. Cook eventually took the new ball but the four overs shared between Broad and Anderson only achieved boundaries. With MS Dhoni and Ravi Ashwin to come, India should easily pass 400 and with Swann spinning the ball sharply already, the English batsmen will have sweaty palms because they know their man is not noted as a prodigious turner. Pragyan Ohja, omitted thoughtlessly throughout the last Australian tour, will be a handful. Ashwin, a man who extracts sharp spin at home and Yuvraj, will complete a trio who will make the English struggle to survive.