Lack of bite from spinners hurts India

India vs England, Second Test, Mumbai- Day 4

Ojha was good but not good enough

There was a danger of one bowler becoming irrelevant at the toss when MS Dhoni revealed he would play three spinners instead of two. That the Indians were outbowled by their English counterparts remains a big worry for Dhoni as the teams head to Kolkata for the third test. Monty was the undoubted star but it was the lack of any incisiveness that would worry India the most.

Monty was able to find sharp turn and bounce from the same spot repeatedly during his spell in the first inning. Compare that to Ashwin and Harbahajan who seemed to struggle on a pitch tailor made for them. Ojha was better but he seemed to have difficulty finding the correct pace to bowl at on this kind of a surface. When he did find his rhythm, the English batsmen were clueless. He found his range after Cook had gotten out but by then everyone felt it was too late to stop Pietersen. Ojha did get him but not after a match-winning inning. Ojha did not try and vary anything too much and found a spot to bowl on  while Pietersen was at the crease. Pietersen seemed a little nervous about it and was eventually dismissed to a delivery that turn from that very spot. Ojha was the best out of the three Indians though.

Monty was easily the best spinner in the game

Ashwin seems to be Dhoni's go to man. He bowled a lot of overs and a lot of them were rubbish. Most of them included one boundary ball which Pietersen and Cook cashed in on during their partnership. When he did find the same spot for six deliveries, Ashwin picked up a wicket. However, it took 42 overs for that wicket to come. He was often too short and although he got a few to turn and jump, the batsmen seemed to be a little more relaxed while batting against him. He was not consistent enough and that questions Dhoni's logic that Ashwin is the teams no.1 spinner. That mantle should now rest with Pragyan Ojha. Harhabjan Singh was the third bowler on display and although he did not bowl too many overs, he did not appear particularly threatening. The bounce on offer should have made him more dangerous. Harbhajan seems to have lost his way in international cricket. He is not able to rediscover the big spin that made him a star all those years ago.

Both Ashwin and Harbahajan bowled the wrong lines and were punished for it. Monty Panesar was a different story. He seemed to have judged the pitch very well and found turn and bounce from the outset. His pace was the important factor as he bowled very quickly and gave the ball a bigger rip than the Indians. Swann also played his part. He bowled a very attacking line and put a lot of spin on the ball. The two of them easily beat the Indian spinners and the game swung their way.

This performance is a serious cause for concern for the Indian selectors as neither of the two offspinners  showed any heart. With the spin stocks in domestic cricket also at an all time low, India will need to think long and hard about an over-reliance on spin.

England wrap up ten wicket drubbing to level the series

India vs England, 2nd test, Mumbai- Day 4
England 413 (Pietersen 186, Cook 122, Ojha 5-143) and 58-0 beat India 327 (Pujara 135, Panesar 5-129) and 142 (Gambhir 65, Panesar 6-81)

England wrapped up the second test by scurrying to the traget of 58 this morning. This after their spinners had reduced India's batting lineup to rubble the previous evening. Monty was the star again for England picking up six in the second innings to end up with a match haul of 11. Gautam Gambhir was the only man offering any resistance and he was last man out for 65.

The match though had turned when England managed an 85-run first innings lead largely thanks to Kevin Pietersen's magnificent 186 yesterday. The pitch played its tricks on the batsmen but the Indian spinners lacked bite and control. Only Ojha shone through taking his second five-for in as many games.
Even he was powerless as Pietersen played an innings of immense quality to wrestle the initiative from the Indians. Once he was dismissed, the slide began and the innings was wrapped up quickly.

The Indian inning began like a procession as only Gautam Gabhir stood up to the English spinners. Tendulkar again was disappointing and Kohli lobbed a full toss to extra cover. Once Dhoni departed with the lead only 1 run, all hope seemed lost for the Indians. Gambhir soldiered on but even his best efforts could not prevent the slide. They were eventually bowled out for 142 this morning.

Cook and Compton then duly knocked of the runs with consummate ease to hand England their a series leveling win. Both sides still have a lot of work before the third test begins in Kolkata in 3 days time.

Pujara and Panesar grab headlines after even first day

India vs England, 2nd test, Mumbai- Day 1
India 266-6 (Pujara 114*, Ashwin 60*, Panesar 4-91) vs England

Monty Panesar and Cheteshwar Pujara dominated headlines after the first day in Mumbai. Monty picked up four of six Indian wickets to fall in the day including Sehwag in his 100th test. Pujara though reclaimed India's lost ground by racking up his second hundred in two games against the visitors.

England would have wanted to make up for their disappointment in Ahmedabad last week and started brightly as Gautam Gambhir missed an inswinger from Anderson to be trapped lbw. That was only the second ball of the day. Monty was brought into the attack soon after and had some success by first removing Sehwag with one that dipped under his bat and hit off stump. The pitch afforded some turn and a lot of bounce for the spinners and that was on display when Tendulkar was bowled by one that turned and took his off stump. India went into lunch at 87-3.

They were soon 119-5 as Kohli mistimed a drive and lobbed one to cover and Yuvraj missed a straight one from Swann. Pujara was the one man who looked in no trouble at all. He drove and cut the spinners with aplomb and even managed to stitch a partnership with MS Dhoni. England did put him down and it turned out to be a costly one. Dhoni was undone by a beauty from Panesar and the catch was snaffled by Trott at slip. At that stage India were 169-6 and in serious trouble. Enter R Ashwin. Last year he scored a hundred on this ground and it seemed like he never left. He even managed to look like VVS Laxman at times.

Pujara and Ashwin put on 97 together by stumps with Ashwin going past fifty but the moment of the day was when Pujara pulled Anderson past square leg to reach his century. Ashwin soon produced a couple of beautiful cover drives and one brilliant pull shot to look more accomplished than a no.8 batsman. India ended the day at 266-6 and England would rue the chance that they put down of Pujara. Ashwin is also proving to be a thorn in their side. The test looks evenly poised and ready for an exciting second day.