CRICKET/Second Test: Teeming overnight rain and more in the late afternoon might have meant that only 25 overs' play were possible yesterday, but it was time enough for England to add four wickets to the four they had taken on the first day. More particularly, though, it was also time enough for Sourav Ganguly, Lord Snooty himself, to polish his black topper, shoot his starched cuffs and make his first significant contribution of the series.
Ganguly had played a diligent, watchful role on Thursday - almost two hours of self-restraint outside off stump - as he strove to capitalise on England's poor strategy. Yesterday, though, sparked perhaps by an altercation with his opposite number, Nasser Hussain, the Indian captain bristled and played with great style for his 68, from 149 balls with 11 fours, before an attempted hook at Matthew Hoggard was helped round the corner to Alec Stewart, who threw the ball high.
Replays suggested that in successive innings, he has been victim of an umpiring error, this time the ball appearing to miss bat and glove and striking him instead on his upper arm. However, Ganguly had played an important innings in the team cause, helping his side reach 302 for eight.
Play did not start until 2.20 p.m. and, with Hussain still determined to employ his off-theory, VVS Laxman failed to maintain his panache of the first day and had not added to his overnight 22 when he drove flat-footed at Andrew Flintoff to give Robert Key his second sharp slip catch of the innings.
Now, though, Ajit Agarkar embarked on a sixth-wicket stand of 67. Immediately Ganguly straight-drove Hoggard and then, after a brief exchange of words with Hussain, whom he seemed to think was still moving his fielders as the bowler was running in, rifled him through extra cover.
To take just five wickets for 264 runs with the first ball in such helpful conditions represented a poor return and the left arm duo of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, both swingers of the ball, could well put the England bowling in perspective.
The second ball though brought its successes, beginning with Agarkar, who having made an unlikely 34, threw his bat outside off stump at a short ball from Steve Harmison and sliced it away to Mark Butcher.
The tumbling catch gave Harmison his first Test wicket in his 17th over and a triumph of sorts for Hussain, although encouragement to his bowlers to take wickets in a more orthodox manner on the first day might have brought better dividends.
In his following over, Harmison gained a second wicket when the Indian debutant Parthiv Patel, 17 years and 122 days old and the youngest ever Test match wicketkeeper, was unable to keep a nasty rising ball down.
Guardian Service
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