Ahmedabad Test, Day 4, Lunch
Friday, December 14, 2001

Forget about a draw, this was the session in which India could have forced themselves into a position to win the game. On a cricket field, there are some things that are out of your control, but you must at least get right whatever is in your power. Sourav Ganguly, by bringing on Tinu Yohannan when he did, lost the plot.

Javagal Srinath had bowled a fine spell, as had Anil Kumble, but Yohannan's introduction eased the pressure off. Nasser Hussain, who had not looked very confident till then, found it easy to get runs from one end and played himself in.

Harbhajan Singh should not have been taken off after just one over first thing in the morning. Not only did that rob India of an attacking option, it also perhaps dented Harbhajan's confidence. Here he was on a turning track on the fourth day, but both fast bowlers were preferred to him. He is still a young bowler and needs to be handled with care.

It hurts me to see how nothing in Indian captaincy has really changed over the years. They don't do things that make common sense and seem so obvious to everyone else. England are not a great side, they lost quick wickets in both innings in Mohali. There was every chance of a collapse this morning. Credit is due to Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain but Ganguly made it easy for them. They should have been stronger in their body language and made the correct bowling changes.

The second session should prove much harder to claim wickets and England will probably start dictating terms.

Sanjay Manjrekar, mainstay of the Indian batting in the late '80s and early '90s, was talking to Rahul Bhattacharya.

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