The Hindu : Sport : Indians progress well as Bangladesh fails to capitalise on thrilling start

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Saturday, May 19, 2007
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Sport

Indians progress well as Bangladesh fails to capitalise on thrilling start

Vijay Lokapally

PHOTO: AFP

CRAFTY EFFORT: Sachin Tendulkar was a picture of concentration in his unbeaten knock.

CHITTAGONG: The old guard gave a firm reminder to the world that they still retain the fire and the passion that drove them to such glorious heights in international cricket. True, the opposition was Bangladesh, not a great force to reckon with in Tests, and the competition was hardly intense.

But they did feel some pressure, and being Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, enormous responsibility too, to ensure there was no further alarm in the dressing room after Bangladesh scalped a wicket off the first ball of the match.

Bangladesh failed to capitalise on the sensational start and the game progressed on expected lines. India finished at 295 for three on the opening day of the first Test of the Grameenphone Series here on Friday.

An hour was lost in the afternoon due to a light drizzle and the day's overall play was curtailed due to fading light and only 77 overs were possible. Ganguly on 82 and Tendulkar on 80 were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

When play began, what normally would have been a loosener from the bowler became a lethal missile when it moved in the air and hit the stumps as it sneaked past the outstretched pad of Wasim Jaffer, who offered no stroke. It was heartbreaking for a batsman who possessed the credentials to grind this attack.

Jaffer's awful misjudgement saw Rahul Dravid walk to the crease with just a ball bowled in the match. This defied what the skipper had visualised when jotting the playing 11 in the match sheet.

Painful decision

The Indians took a painful decision to exclude V.V.S. Laxman — the team management had little choice once it had made up its mind to play five bowlers. The decision to include five bowlers was influenced by the fact that the playing conditions made heavy demands on fitness levels and it was necessary to allow the bowlers rest between spells to recover.

Left-arm seamer R.P. Singh was drafted in for an unfit Munaf Patel while Zaheer Khan, V.R.V. Singh, Anil Kumble and Ramesh Powar picked themselves. It was hard on Laxman no doubt but then it allowed young Dinesh Karthik, who is being groomed to replace Virender Sehwag, to showcase his batting potential as an opener.

It was also tough on Yuvraj Singh but again, it was a decision taken in the interest of the team. If Dravid had said it was going to hurt someone for losing his place, he meant it. This was a chance none would have forfeited, given the placid nature of the pitch and the potency of the Bangladesh attack.

The beginning was bizarre indeed when Mashrafe bin Mortaza knocked Jaffer's stumps. The galleries were full and vociferous but India's cricket was in tune with the situation because Karthik and Dravid lent class in the middle.

Karthik had a specific role and goal — to establish himself without compromising his natural flair. Dravid concentrated on guiding his young partner but not at the cost of scoring opportunities.

Dravid charged up

Dravid was refreshingly charged up, playing shots on the rise; Karthik matched him with some fluent drives. The pair put on 124 runs and prospered by backing each other.

India gradually came to terms with the challenge as the game swiftly went out of Bangladesh's grasp. But the home team suddenly bounced back when Karthik and Dravid lost their wickets in an attempt to dominate.

Karthik was exciting to watch in his 102-ball knock that contained nine fours. His ability to pick the line early helped him make runs in a flourish while Dravid, who faced 99 balls and hit 11 fours, showed admirable footwork. Karthik fell in playing a pull early while Dravid's impulsive drive only earned him an edge.

Tendulkar and Ganguly were flawless, admiring and motivating each other on their return to the team after being `rested' for the one-day series.

Tendulkar concentrated fiercely in his crafty effort. He hit seven fours while Ganguly was typically adventurous, hoisting left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique for two sixes to add to ten well-timed boundaries.

Tendulkar and Ganguly were hardly tested during their 163-run association, raising visions of a long day for the Bangladesh bowlers on Saturday.

Medium-pacer Shahadat Hossain commanded respect and deserved more than Dravid's wicket while Mortaza worked up pace in patches. The left-arm spinners, with the exception of Shakibul Hasan, failed to complement the seamers.

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