Mahendra Nagamootoo's stock ball is 105 kmph; when Anil Kumble gets to that much his shoulder is in danger of dropping off. With 50 wickets this season, Nagamooto's top of the Busta table. Today, he had to contend with the world's best batsman.

Sachin Tendulkar walked out at 11.17am to a roar, not as deafening as he is accustomed to at home, but a roar nonetheless. Beneath a large picture of Rohan Kanhai, a man waved an Indian flag from atop a fence.

Tendulkar was beaten first ball by Mervyn Dillon, but he was soon making amends. Carl Hooper was made to pay the price for no mid-on. Cameron Cuffy was taken from just outside off stump and punched to wide long-on for four. A three off Sanford followed similarly. Wrists, balance, timing, precision; simply superb.

Nagamootoo was not excused. His second ball had been cut for four. Dillon looked the wisest. He tried pitching it up, and he tried pitching wider. Once, he was sent to mid-on with the most succulent turn of the wrists, another time, velveted through the covers. Tendulkar actively sought out boundaries. `Laijja, Laijja' from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham burst open in one section of the stands.

Nagamootoo came back for a spell with an altered line. He began to hit more leg and middle and zipped it through fuller than before. Tendulkar shelled himself as he often does nowadays, particularly against spinners. Thirty-four balls fetched five runs. A ball after he edged him into Junior Murray's pads, he was out, attempting to pull one that skid through. It was a big moment for Nagamootoo who has now brought his average down to 43.71.

But actually, it was a microcosm of a batsman's progression. In the middle of batting in what they call a zone, Tendulkar chose to slow it down.

Rahul Bhattacharya is a staff writer with Wisden.com India. His reports will appear here throughout the Test series.

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