No one holds aces yet in Nagpur

It was one of those days when you will never quite be able to make out who holds the aces at the end of it. You will think and then think again, but still not be able to give any one side a clear advantage. India ended the first day of the concluding test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy with a score of 311 for 5. Indians are 1-0 up, they know that their tail has wagged exceedingly well in last few months and years and have two in-form batsmen at crease. But, the catch is that inspite of making more than 300 runs, they have lost 5 wickets. The current pair is the last recognised pair of batsmen at crease. The pitch has no demons and the Australian bowling attack certainly doesn't have any either. They are without their tightest bowler, Stuart Clark. But they can look back at this day with a lot of satisfaction and look forward with a lot of optimism. They are just a wicket away from running into India's tail. For all his greatness, Saurav Ganguly still remains a mortal figure who never brings to crease a fatality for oppnonents that Rahul Dravid once used to bring and Mahendar Singh Dhoni has shown that he can get out when it really matters in the long version of the game. One of them can certainly be dismissed for peanuts early tomorrow. And once that is done, Australia can exert pressure like they have done for last many years and get India out for around 400. Teams have lost after scoring 400 runs in first innings. India themselves have often lost (thought most of that has been outside the subcontinent). Australia have a decent chance of redeeming a part of their aura.

And finally a word on the two debutants. M. Vijay looked rock solid while defending, ran very well, played his shots, showed the arrogance to come down the wicket to a spinner and most importantly, did not seem overawed. He obviously came into the match with some momentum, having just scored a double ton in a Ranji match. The 33 runs scored by him were quite crucial, those were 33 runs of self-assurance. Needless to say he was impressive, but nothing much should be read yet. This was after all an innings played on a placid track against a modest attack. Jason Krezsa finally got a place in the Australian eleven and had a wretched first few overs. He was taken apart by Sehwag intitially (who anyway never has any doubt about how to treat rookie spinners. The very same guy had stepped out to Ajantha Mendis on his first ball in a final and got stumped! But trust Sehwag to stick to his guns.) and had an economy which is below average even by the standards of one-dayers. He got some stick, picked up two huge wickets, but still looked pedestrian as Indians helped themselves to easy runs. Only when he started pitching the ball up, did he look threatening. His bowling is nothing but good old fashioned off-spin bowling. Impart some flight pitch it up and give it a big turn. At its best such bowling can be useful against average players, but batsmen like Sehwag and Pietersen will ruin him. Apart from discipline, he does need atleast some doosra, skidder or something in his arsenal.