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Enterprising Gambhir cracks century

S. Dinakar

Dravid returns to form; England struggles against the left-right combination

— Photo: S. Subramanium

IN FULL FLOW: Gautam Gambhir sends one to the fence during his unbeaten century knock against England in the second Test at Mohali on Friday.

Mohali: A gloomy Friday was lit up by Gautam Gambhir’s stroke-play and Rahul Dravid’s spirit. Enterprise blended with resolve as India scored 179 for one at stumps on the first day of the second cricket Test against England.

Gambhir’s third three-figure innings in four Tests was a confirmation of the left-hander’s growing stature. The big story of the day, however, was Rahul Dravid’s return to form.

The English attack strove unsuccessfully against a left-right pair of contrasts at the PCA Ground. Gambhir (106 batting, 229b, 12x4, 1x6) and Dravid (65 batting, 205b, 7x4) have added 173 runs.

Greenish patches on the surface and overcast conditions notwithstanding, Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bat. It was the right decision for a side featuring two spinners.

Gambhir responded to his captain’s call on a day when poor light cut short play by 18 overs. The left-hander tightened his game without compromising on flair. He still takes calculated risks but there is a greater solidity about his batting.

Sehwag departs

Although the pitch was on the slower side, the pacemen found movement. The influential Virender Sehwag departed in the second over, fatally sucked into a drive by an away going delivery from Stuart Broad.

The all-rounder replaced Steve Harmison in the England eleven. The English bowling was engaging in parts but lacked the cutting edge.

Gambhir was not complaining. He flashed a cover-drive off Anderson to the cover fence in the day’s first over. Subsequently, he settled down with a determined Dravid.

There are shades of Matthew Hayden in Gambhir’s walk-and-loft methods against the pacemen. This quick-footed southpaw seizes scoring opportunities. When Broad provided him the width and length, Gambhir employed the cut and the pull. To fuller length deliveries, he eased into flowing drives.

He used his feet against the spinners; Gambhir struck off-colour left-arm spinner Monty Panesar to the mid-wicket fence. Off-spinner Graeme Swann was dumped over the long-off ropes in a stunning inside-out blow.

Gambhir also had his moments of uncertainty against Swann — replays suggested he was plumb in front after missing the line of a drifter from round-the-wicket. And when Swann spun one across the left-hander from over-the-wicket, Paul Collingwood could not latch on to a sharp chance at slip.

At the other end, Dravid held firm. The early loss of Sehwag and the dense cloud-cover saw the Indian think-tank sending its most experienced No. 3 to the middle. Dravid dug in.

There have been occasions this year when Dravid, in a manner not suited to his style of play, had attempted to rush through the early phase.

Settling into a batting rhythm revolving around a strong defence is the heart of Dravid’s batsmanship. He is someone who increases the tempo gradually.

There was an early moment on Friday when Dravid miscued a pull off Anderson but the ball fell in no man’s land. He was troubled by Broad initially — Dravid survived a confident leg-before shout as the ball nipped back — but battled through the phase.

Dravid of old

Soon the old, familiar Dravid was on view. He was airborne even as he kept down a lifter — aimed at his rib-cage from Flintoff — down with soft hands on the on-side.

Dravid blunted dangerman Flintoff. The distribution of weight in his stance, the initial movement, the point of impact, and the follow through followed in a smooth sequence as Dravid displayed a straight blade.

As he gained in confidence, Dravid pulled Anderson past the ropes, essayed a lovely front-footed flick off Broad. Dravid employed the paddle sweep against the spinners and drove Panesar majestically through the covers.

After a rare lapse in concentration, a crouching Dravid peered down the wicket. The senior batsman is looking at a hundred.

scoreboard India — Ist innings: G. Gambhir (batting) 106; V. Sehwab c Prior b Broad 0; R. Dravid (batting) 65, Extras (lb-3, nb-5) 8; Total (for one wkt. in 72 overs) 179.

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Sehwag).

England bowling: Anderson 15-3-29-0; Broad 16-7-45-1; Flintoff 13-2-31-0; Panesar 13-2-41-0; Swann 15-4-30-0.

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