For Simon Jones, his first shot at Test cricket didn't turn out the way he would have dreamt it. Yet, at the end of the day, as he stood outside the Lord's museum, fresh from his first encounter with the media as an international player and snuggled up to his girlfriend Kim, he was a very contented young man. He had got his break in the side - a bit fortuitously it must be added - as England's first genuine quick bowler since Devon Malcolm. Andrew Flintoff, who had surprised Indian batsmen with his nip and bounce during England's tour of India last year, had yesterday warned that the Indians would find Jones a handful. He was ready, Freddie said, to join Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar as one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the world. He was supposed to give Indian batsmen, always suspect against balls that buzz around their shoulders and heads, a bit of hell.

As things turned out, he gave them more than just a bit of hell, but it was the bowlers who were hit. At 390 for 8, India could have reasonably expected to keep England under 400, with a nervous debutant at 10 and a genuine No. 11 to follow. When Jones departed, 43 balls later, England's score read 452, and Jones had 44 highly adventurous runs, mixing the classic tailender's swipes with some handsome blows from the meat of the bat. Zaheer Khan, India's best bowler for two days, was lofted over his head for a six and hit down the wicket for a four off successive balls; Anil Kumble was cut and driven all around the ground. Jones' 43-balls had produced 44 runs. It was simple, uncomplicated and brutal.

"Craig told me just to relax and enjoy myself," said Jones at the press conference, "I did. And it came off."

Jones didn't expect to take the new ball: "Matthew and Freddie had opened the bowling in India and done quite well," he explained. "So it was only fair that they took the new ball here." But when Nasser Hussain rung in the first change, a mere six overs in to the innings, he turned to Ashley Giles, who bowled over the wicket and outside the legstump, ostensibly to play on Virender Sehwag's fragile temperament.

The ploy failed, Giles was punished for 28 runs in four overs, and Jones was summoned to bowl the 14th over to a thunderous ovation.

Lord's hadn't seen a English quickie in ages and they were not about to let it pass. Jones's first over wasn't spectacular. And he is not a spectacular bowler. He bowls off ten paces, seems to stop before his delivery stride, but hurls it down with a cannonball action. His first ball landed three feet wide of the off stump, and he was all over the place for the first few overs.

"I was nervous," he admitted, "my legs felt like jelly. I wasn't trying to bowl fast but just keep the ball in places as my captain had told me." It was his first time at Lord's, he said, and it was understandable that he was a bit overawed. But the rhythm came as his nerves settled and soon he was approaching 90mph. A loud cheer went off when the speed gun flashed up, though Jones admitted he was a bit conscious he had never been timed before.

Tomorrow will be a big day. Not only does the match hang in the balance, but it will be Sachin Tendulkar who walks out first thing in the morning. Jones will be ready. "This is what Test cricket is all about. Bowling to the best batsmen in the world. Hopefully my legs will be feeling fine tomorrow, as we are hoping to make them follow on."

Sambit Bal is editor of Wisden Asia Cricket

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