Mohali Test, Day 4
Thursday, December 6, 2001

We just didn't play to our potential in this game. From 200-odd for 2 we should have got up to 350. If we'd taken all the chances we had in their innings I think we'd have bowled them out for around that and been level on first innings. But we never gave ourselves that chance to ask India the question. If they'd had to chase 200 on the last day, who knows? But, to collapse from 200 for 2 to 230 all out in the first innings just isn't good enough – and that's where we lost the game.

The main difference between our performance today and our performances last winter is experience. It's no coincidence that the three batters who got runs, myself, Thorpy and Tresco, were the three who were out there in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

We didn't consciously go out today to try and attack the bowling more than we did last night. We all approach batting differently. I don't feel there's any real need to run down the wicket to the spinners in the first innings. But in the second innings, when the ball is turning and there are men round the bat, you have to try and put the bowler off a bit – you can't just hang in there like a sitting duck. I can't speak for everyone, but that's my approach.

Anil Kumble is so different here to in England or South Africa. There he gets very little turn and you can play him like an inswing bowler. But in India he is much more effective – he gets turn and bounce and, most importantly, grip off the surface. I put the collapse down to inexperience – although he played in England, some of the younger lads have never faced him.

If I was going into this game again, I'd pick the same side. The wicket was basically a good one, not a huge turner – so I don't think having, say, an extra spinner would have altered things at all. A captain has to pick the best four or five bowlers for his team – obviously if you have a Saqlain or a Shane Warne at your disposal that's one thing. But I have to pick my best attack – not just spinners for the sake of it.

History says that the ball will turn much more in Ahmedabad, so we'll probably need two spinners. That means you can only have five batsmen, because you need five bowlers and so you have to play the allrounders. Without Alec Stewart as keeper, you're basically trying to fit 12 into 11.

There are some plus points from this game – Dawson obviously, and the discipline the boys showed when we bowled. I had a few plans, like the 8-1 field and bowling bumpers, and for such inexperienced players the boys put those plans into practice very well.

It was nice for Graham to get some runs, he's had a lean trot by his standards and he's still just getting over his broken hand. But he's a world-class player, his shot selection is perfect and he balances his innings between nurdling the ball and more aggressive strokes.

So those are the positives – but that's about it.

I'm going to hit the golf course tomorrow – if my back lets me. It's a day off which we shouldn't have, but I'm not going to insist on naughty-boy nets. It's up to each player to think about his own performance and how they can improve. It's only going to get more difficult from here. Now it's down to strength of character.

Nasser Hussain was talking to Camilla Rossiter. His thoughts will appear on Wisden.com throughout the Test and one-day series.

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