On a pitch which offered the faster bowlers absolutely no assistance, the efforts of Cameron Cuffy and Javagal Srinath stood out. Both West Indies and India had a couple of other seamers in the line-up, but Cuffy and Srinath were the most disciplined. It was no coincidence that they were also the most successful. They both stuck to the old-fashioned virtues of line and length. Cuffy kept it on a good length 81% of the time (131 balls out of 162); the corresponding figure for Srinath was 83% (167 out of 201). Zaheer Khan had a woeful first day, but came back admirably on the second to finish with overall good-length figures of 76.

Adam Sanford and Mervyn Dillon were the worst culprits. Sanford pitched it on a good length an abysmal 49% of the time, while Dillon's percentage was a none-too-impressive 61. They also sent down 13 half-volleys each and were punished for 25 and 27 runs off them. Cuffy, by contrast, sent down just six half-volleys in 27 overs.

Not only did Cuffy and Srinath bowl an impeccable length, their line was very good too. An incredible 98% of Cuffy's deliveries were on middle stump or further off side, while the corresponding percentage for Srinath was 85. S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com India.

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