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Swann thrilled with his dream start

Kunal Diwan

Dhoni dismisses cynical analyses of Dravid’s repeated recent failures

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

IN FULL FLIGHT: England off-spinner Graeme Swann is ecstatic after removing Rahul Dravid, his second wicket in his debut over in Test cricket.

CHENNAI: Graeme Swann’s first over in Test cricket was a long time coming. But when it did materialise at Chepauk here on Friday, the England off-spinner marked it with a sensational couple of balls, prying out Gautam Gambhir and hoodwinking a lustreless Rahul Dravid with turn.

What’s more, the Northamptonshire regular also nudged one down the leg-side during England’s innings to score his first run in Tests.

“I always thought that the first ball I faced in Tests would be a Brett Lee bouncer. But Harbhajan was kind enough to slip me one down leg-side and I tapped it for a run,” he said.

The emphasis, though, was largely on his dream-like first over. “I came on with an intention to attack. There was a bat-pad chance that wasn’t given…then the couple of lbws. The first wicket didn’t really click, but my head was spinning after the second; it was like a goal had been scored at Wembley.”

He only became the second bowler in Test cricket to take two wickets in the debut over in Test cricket. Compatriot and fast bowler Richard Johnson had scalped two against Zimbabwe in 2003.

Within a whisker of being selected for England’s final Test against New Zealand in 1999, Swann, then 20, had no idea that he would have to wait nine years to win his first Test cap.

Seize the moment

“I know there won’t be too many chances for me to play Tests for England, so I just want to enjoy every moment out there. As a team, taking six Indian wickets for less than 200 runs is an achievement in itself,” he said.

With the English team showing welcome gumption after an insipid performance in the one-day series, the second day ended inarguably in the visitor’s favour.

Speculations were rife on what the ideal last innings target would be.

“There haven’t really been any big partnerships for either side after England’s opening stand on the first day. It would be hard to say what the ideal score would be, anything over 350 would be difficult to get.”

Admitting that his team was outplayed on the day, India captain M.S. Dhoni gave credit where it was due.

‘Bad day at the office’

“England is on top... they bowled well with the new ball. We are in a difficult position now, but at the international level, there are bound to be ‘bad days at the office,’” he said.

Unbeaten at close on day two with only the tail for company, Dhoni said he would “look to score 50 runs with the lower order, though 250 would be a nice score to get”.

He dismissed cynical analyses of Dravid’s repeated recent batting failures, saying that he “wasn’t worried about it”.

“This happens to everyone. There are times when one hits a bad patch, and times when one gets a series of good scores. Gautam and Rahul got out to good balls. You do not want to get such balls around tea,” he added. Dhoni also refused to give pointers on the kind of target that India would ideally like to chase in its last innings.

“I am more worried about the third day’s play. The pitch has started to take turn, but it is more about bowling in the right places than the condition of the pitch.” Asked to comment on the team’s stand on the proposed tour to Pakistan early next year, Dhoni said: “It is up to the Government to decide. We are still occupied with the England series.”

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