Those spoiled by Australia's revolutionary approach to Test batting would have been tempted to write this day off as a cruel hark-back to the dull times when a scoring rate of three an over used to be exceptional, but in the context of the conditions and the way the series is poised, the Indian batting performance today was nothing short of heroic. It was almost as if the ICC contract row had instilled them with new steel and purpose. A total of 236 runs in 90 overs is unfashionable in these days of helter-skelter cricket, but rarely in the recent past have we seen a more heartening performance from Indian batsmen on the first day of an overseas Test. This Headingley pitch is such that a couple of quick wickets could lead to a collapse, but by grimly battling out a day, India have already secured a small victory.

Indians have long been seduced by the notion that great batting is all about artistry, flair and boundary-hitting - a notion reinforced by the West's tendency to celebrate the Orient for its art and magic. What is often neglected is that stodge and solidity, while not spectacular, can be as valuable. By their grit and determination and reserve and poise, Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Bangar showed the virtue of stonewalling and quiet resistance on a pitch that didn't allow the batsmen to settle down for a moment.

Throughout this series, and indeed the one that was played in India last winter, Nasser Hussain has preyed on the patience of the natural, free-stroking Indian batsmen by working out a master-plan based on denial and suffocation, and has succeeded. Today he ran into two batsmen who paid him back by playing the waiting game to perfection, and by doing so, severely exposed the limitations of this English attack.

Dravid is already an acknowledged master of his craft, but Bangar's batting was an absolute revelation. Chosen ahead of a specialist opener only because of his ability with the ball, he batted within his limitations but with a resoluteness and unflappability that his more talented colleagues would do well to emulate. He was beaten a number of times by some unplayable balls early on, but he did his best to get behind the line and play it straight. The way he left balls outside the off stump, and those dug in short, was exceptional. To India, his 68 was worth more than a century.

Dravid has clearly been the best Indian batsman on the tour so far, and his century in the last Test saved the match. But for sheer skill and batsmanship, today's was a superior innings. On the most difficult first-day pitch of the series so far, he was a picture of technical virtuosity. True, England could have bowled better, but such was Dravid's focus and composure that he would have perhaps dealt with any bowling today.

But before the match started, the focus had been on the team selection. Given the prevailing conditions and the history of this ground, India's decision to play two spinners may have appeared strange and naïve. The figures of the last decade speak for themselves: spinners have taken only 19 wickets here and the second- and third-best bowling averages belong to Graeme Hick and Michael Atherton for their one wicket each. Tim May, who is in the news these days for other reasons, is the highest wicket-taker among spinners here in the last 10 years, with five in his only match in 1993. And that was the last time two specialist spinners played a Test here. His partner in that match averages 89.33 from three matches at Headingley, and answers to the name Shane Warne. So Sourav Ganguly's decision to play both Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble here could have been termed desperate.

But look at Ganguly's options closely, and you see the logic and compulsions behind the move. His seamers aren't good enough to take 20 wickets. In fact, they have been so profligate that they are a risk. Ashish Nehra, potentially his best bet to exploit the English conditions, has been the biggest disappointment. At the team meeting last night, Ganguly would have thought hard about playing SS Das, a specialist batsman with a 250 behind him, but what surely swayed the balance in Bangar's favour is that he can bowl his little seamers, and would surely do no worse than Ajit Agarkar or Nehra. But Bangar has already earned his place with his batting.

Sambit Bal is editor of Wisden Asia Cricket and Wisden Online in India.

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