Karthik007’s Blog

Graeme Swann took two wickets in his first over in Test cricket as India struggled to 155 for six wickets in reply to England’s 316 by the close of the second day’s play in Chennai.

The off-spinner claimed Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid to leg before wicket decisions to open up the home side’s top order in the opening Test of the two-match series.

Paceman Jimmy Anderson had made the initial breakthrough to remove Virender Sehwag and Swann’s dramatic intervention left the home side wobbling on 37 for three wickets at tea.

A 61-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar (37) and VVS Laxman threatened to wrest the initiative away from England, but both fell in quick succession.

Laxman, who had batted elegantly, drove Monte Panesar back for a caught and bowled before Tendulkar also gave Andrew Flintoff a return catch.

When Steve Harmison removed Yuvraj Singh cheaply — caught sharply at second slip by Flintoff — England’s excellent day was complete.

At stumps, home skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on 24 and Harbhajan Singh was on 13 with India still trailing by 161 runs.

Swann’s feat has only been matched by one other player in Test history, fellow Englishman Richard Johnson on his debut against Zimbabwe.

Earlier, wicketkeeper Matt Prior made an undefeated half century as England battled past 300 having started the day 229 for five wickets.

Flintoff went for 18 in the third over of the day, but Prior found solid support from nightwatchman Anderson, who made 19 in just under two hours at the crease.

Swann, Harmison and Panesar were all dismissed cheaply with Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra leading the Indian bowling with three wickets apiece, while paceman Zaheer Khan took two for 41 on a pitch offering help to both seam and spin.

The match has been played against the backdrop of heavy security after the Mumbai attacks which left the series in doubt.

England cut short their one-day international series in India, trailing 5-0 with two matches remaining, but returned with a full squad to play Tests in Chennai and Mohali.

On Tuesday, England’s players said they would donate half of their match fees for the series — around $52,000 — to help those affected by the attacks.

The events in Mumbai have placed India’s tour of Pakistan next month under considerable doubt with sports minister M.S. Gill saying on Friday that it was unlikely permission will be granted for it to proceed.

The attacks, which killed 171 people, have been blamed on militants linked to an Islamic group in Pakistan.

India are scheduled to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match during the five-week tour from January 6 to February 19.