Ahmedabad, second Test, day 2
Wednesday, December 12, 2001

Two hours is a peculiar length of time. Enough to digest a small meal but not enough to listen to the entire Abba back catalogue. Today it was plenty to change the fortunes of four men - from hero to villain, from no-hoper to go-getter.

For Anil Kumble and Deep Dasgupta the lesson was harsh. Kumble was the hero of the first day. With his five top-order wickets, rhythmic bowling and modest celebrations he had the crowd chanting his name in unison until their lungs exploded. He made the front pages of the newpapers - Kumble back to his best.

But. This morning, day-dreaming at deep square-leg, he ran to greet a top-edged hook from Craig White off Javagal Srinath, scrambled around, fell flat on his face and spilt it. When he jogged off the field a few balls later to change his shirt, he was booed and spat at by the very people who had squealed for a touch of his moustache yesterday.

It was probably just the last straw for the crowd who had already seen Deep Dasgupta miss White twice. Dasgupta was the quiet celebrity of Mohali. A century in his first Test on home soil delighted the purists but disappointed the fanatics who begrudged every tedious minute that delayed the entrance of Tendulkar. Ganguly praised him at a press conference, his female coach was interviewed, and his parents were asked for insights on the son they called Deep. We learnt that he was a keen gymnast and liked cheese.

Today we learnt that he fumbles stumpings (White, on 45, off Harbhajan Singh) and misses simple edges (White, on 63, off Srinath). Under his white sunhat, Srinath glowered. Tendulkar was the only person who dared go near him to give him even a metaphorical pat on the bottom. The Indian fielding, so acrobatic yesterday, had disintegrated into a hobbling mess.

But for England, two hours have rarely been so sweet. Everyone expected a collapse - but no - 277 with surprising haste turned to 356. And James Foster, who looked so awkward at Mohali - dropping catches, missing stumpings and sweeping Harbhajan with the alacrity of a noblewoman in a crinoline, suddenly found his feet. He cover-drove Kumble and flicked Srinath with a smirk. Written off before the game, he will be written up now.

His partner in crime, Craig White, underwent even more of a transformation. He had made a thrilling 79 in the very first game at Mumbai. But since then he had been awkward, as if overawed by the hulking shadow of Andy Flintoff lurking at every corner. Flintoff was coming in at No. 6 and grabbing the ball before him. But luck, or a swami or something, instituted a transformation - White saw red leather beautifully.

Yes, he gave chances this morning, but he played like an angel, hooking, smothering, blocking and above all creaming those drives through the covers. A maiden Test century - and with nearly two sessions to go. There was time for his fortunes to change again.

Tanya Aldred, our assistant editor, is covering the whole tour for Wisden.com.

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