Younis Khan has been named as Pakistan's vice-captain for their forthcoming tour of India, while Arshad Khan, the tall offspinner, has earned a recall to the Test team. Shoaib Akhtar, who recently ruled himself out of contention with a hamstring injury, was left out of the 15-man squad announced today by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Shabbir Ahmed, who has been struggling with injury, did not recover in time and nstead the pace department is spearheaded by Mohammad Sami, and also includes Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Khalil. Pakistan will also lean heavily on Abdul Razzaq's medium-pace.
Danish Kaneria heads the spinners and will be assisted by Arshad, who was rewarded with a recall for performing consistently in domestic cricket in Pakistan. Arshad last played a Test against England in 2000-01. Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, the allrounders, strengthen the spin department.
Squad Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Khalil.
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Honours even on absorbing dayPakistan 312 (Kamal 91, Balaji 4-76) v India
Asim Kamal's gutsy knock of 91, after India's mediumpace bowlers had accounted for the top order, helped Pakistan to 312 before they were knocked over by India. Lakshmipathy Balaji, returning to the Indian team after a gap of nearly a year, had plenty to smile about, and picked up his first Test five-for. The fall of the last Pakistani wicket virtually on the stroke of stumps meant that India did not come out to bat. They will begin the second day with Pakistan's first-innings 312 in front of them.
Full report to follow …
Tea Pakistan 191 for 6 (Kamal 33*, Akmal 0*) v India Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out
India's bowlers made optimum use of a well-grassed pitch that was nowhere near as malicious as it looked, accounting for the Pakistan top order by tea-time on the opening day at Mohali. Asim Kamal, who cut and pulled his way to 33 by the interval, was the sole repository of hope as Pakistan stuttered to tea at 191 for 6. Having picked three pace bowlers, Ganguly was almost obliged to bowl and his decision was certainly vindicated, albeit with a little help from some distinctly dubious shot selection.
Inzamam-ul-Haq played a sterling hand of 57, but a failure to build significant partnerships was Pakistan's undoing in the first two sessions. Inzamam had resumed after lunch in the best possible fashion, cutting Pathan behind point for four, and then stroking a yorker down to the long-off boundary with wondrous timing. At the other end, Yousuf Youhana smacked a superb off-drive of Balaji as Pakistan crossed three figures, but yet again, he was undone by the wiles of Pathan, who set him up with movement both ways before inducing the thinnest of edges off one that darted away slightly (104 for 4).
Kamal commenced his innings with a coruscating pull and a less-than-convincing hook, but soon settled down to play a steady role alongside Inzamam, who was beginning to bat with the majesty he's capable of. Apart from a fortuitous edge that evaded the slips off Pathan's bowling, he was seldom troubled, easing to 50 with a splendid straight drive off Zaheer.
With the momentum being lost, Ganguly introduced himself, without causing either batsmen much angst. And once again, it was left to that old game-breaker, Anil Kumble, to strike the most decisive of blows. Inzamam was a fair way forward but the delivery struck him low on the pad and Rudi Koertzen gave the decision influenced perhaps by Inzamam's failure to play a genuine stroke (156 for 5).
Abdul Razzaq, never at his best against the slow turning ball, came in and attempted to hit his team out of trouble, and a couple of meaty blows off Kumble and a classy drive past point hinted at better things, only for the crudest of flirtations outside off stump to end his 24-ball 26 (191 for 6).
Pakistan had ended the first session with a similar stutter, as Taufeeq Umar, who had chanced his arm to make 44, dragged a fullish delivery from Laxmipathy Balaji onto the stumps with the aroma of lunch literally wafting to the middle (89 for 3).
Taufeeq and Inzamam had rebuilt the innings by adding 59 after India's new-ball pairing of Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan had pushed Pakistan onto the back foot in the early going. Pathan had made the most diffident of starts, bowling at lackadaisical pace while spraying the ball around, even as Zaheer charged in with menace and purpose.
Zaheer was shaping the ball in beautiful semi-ellipses away from the left-handers while bowling at a brisk pace, but it was Pathan that gave the crowd the opportunity for a first loud bellow when he cleaned up a clearly nervous Salman Butt (5) with a ball that did little in the air or off the pitch (11 for 1).
Younis Khan, heir apparent to Inzamam's throne, started off with a streaky edge and a delicate glance, but his habit of shuffling across his stumps was to cost him dearly as Zaheer got one to land in line with leg stump (30 for 2).
At that stage, with Taufeeq having survived two confident leg-before shouts from Zaheer and resembling the proverbial cat on hot tin roof, India were firmly in the ascendancy, with Ganguly's decision to take the field with three pace bowlers – the first time India had gone with a lone specialist spinner in a home Test since 1990 – appearing an inspired one.
But Inzamam, who was greeted with a bouncer by Pathan, soon eased his way into the action with a fluid cover-drive for three off Zaheer, and though he subsequently edged two down to the third man fence to the bowler's anguish, they were interspersed by a square-drive that was languid elegance personified.
Balaji replaced the pallid Pathan as Ganguly opted for variety to pick the lock, but Pakistan were soon motoring as Taufeeq uncorked two sumptuous drives down the ground. The introduction of Kumble didn't stem the tide either, with Taufeeq tapping a wide one past point and then stroking a lovely on-drive. The 50 partnership took just 67 deliveries and prospects were increasingly bright for Pakistan as they neared lunch. Then, Taufeeq's indiscretion changed the tone, and despite Inzamam leading by example, Pakistan were rarely far from the precipice.
How they were out:
Salman Butt b. Pathan 5 (11 for 1) Played inside a Pathan delivery while statuesque on the crease. The ball did just enough to beat the bat and crash into off stump.
Younis Khan lbw b Khan 9 (30 for 2) Zaheer delivery that pitched in line with leg stump cannoned into the pad halfway up. Younis's clumsy shuffle across probably helped Rudi Koertzen make up his mind.
Taufeeq Umar b Balaji 44 (89 for 3) Ball pitched on a good length, and Taufeeq, as he had done for much of his innings, flailed at it unconvincingly. The inside edge did the rest.
Yousuf Youhana c Karthik b Pathan 6 (104 for 4) the seeds of doubt had been implanted by earlier deliveries, and a tentative plod at a Pathan delivery that seamed away a touch was Youhana's undoing.
Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Kumble 57 (156 for 5) Looked bitterly disappointed at being given out but his failure to play a stroke to a ball that pitched in line cost him. Had a good stride forward, but the ball struck him low enough on the pad to convince Rudi Koertzen.
Abdul Razzaq c Karthik b Balaji 26 (191 for 6) A senseless swipe at a fairly wide delivery from Balaji with tea being poured into the cups. The way Razzaq played, it was only a matter of time before he went down in flames
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India grind out healthy leadIndia 447 for 6 (Sehwag 173, Tendulkar 94) lead Pakistan 312 all out by 135runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out
Virender Sehwag's thrilling 173 gave India the ideal platform to bat Pakistan out of this Test match, but those that followed him showed a strange reluctance to put the boot in, as Pakistan's bowlers – led most admirably by the tireless Danish Kaneria – fought to implement a damage-limitation plan. After an elongated first session produced 134 runs, 71 of them to Sehwag, India dawdled along the rest of the day, adding only a further 129. All eyes were on Sachin Tendulkar, who got to within a big hit of a record-breaking 35th century before a loose stroke meant that the celebrations would have to be postponed to another day.
Tendulkar's was an innings in two parts. He had made just eight when Rudi Koertzen reprieved him off Kaneria's bowling, but thereafter, he was in sublime touch until lunch, driving, cutting and finessing the ball with a fluency that evoked memories of his halcyon years. But after the repast, the fluid strokeplay was replaced by circumspection and excessive caution. And once Sehwag, with whom he added 118 in just 171 balls, departed, he and Sourav Ganguly – in dire form – struggled to even work the ball off the square for long periods.
Besides their own lack of ambition, they were thwarted by the guile, variety and stomach for a fight that Kaneria displayed throughout the course of a marathon 32-over spell. Ganguly, usually so dismissive of slow bowling, scratched around painfully for a drab 21, while Tendulkar appeared content to tuck the bat behind the pad or tap away those deliveries that pitched in line. And when Kaneria went round the wicket, as Ashley Giles had done at Bangalore in December 2001, it gave the game of cat-and-mouse another dimension.
For today though, Ganguly was certainly the mouse to Kaneria's cat, and a bat-pad catch to Salman Butt ended a miserable 74-ball struggle (382 for 4). Tendulkar, now joined by a subdued VVS Laxman, then eked his way into the 90s before the finest of paddle sweeps – his first shot to the rope in 20 overs – took him to 94. But with Inzamam-ul-Haq finally opting for the new ball, 40 overs after it was due, that was as far as Tendulkar would get in attempting to go beyond the stratosphere he now inhabits along with Sunil Gavaskar.
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, subjected to fearful punishment by Sehwag, pitched one on off stump, and Tendulkar's waft went low to Asim Kamal's right at gully. The near capacity crowd was stunned into silence for a few seconds before they roused themselves for the standing ovation which they had hoped would come a few minutes later.
Laxman stroked three classy fours off Naved as the sun descended from its lofty perch, but those were isolated splashes of colour in a grey afternoon canvas.
It had been so different in the morning. Sehwag had rapidly completed the formalities of a ninth Test century in only his 32nd match, when he cut a delivery past point off Naved. It had taken him just 129 balls, and included yet another moment of good fortune when an edge off Naved didn't carry to Younis Khan at slip.
In general, Pakistan bowled with far greater purpose and discipline in the early going, with Mohammad Sami especially impressive. Rahul Dravid could never recapture the form of yesterday and moments after he had scampered the single that took him to 50, he slashed a Sami delivery to Kamal at gully (216 for 2).
It was Dravid's dismissal that served as a spur for Sehwag to once more pick apart the bowling. Naved was contemptuously swatted for two fours past point, and when the next ball was edged between the keeper and slip, Inzamam's broad shoulders dropped even more. That the next ball was clumsily squeezed out just short of a dozing forward short leg merely reaffirmed his worst fears.
The pivotal moment, however, arrived once Kaneria, who had to wait 90 minutes to get a bowl, faced up to Tendulkar. The master announced his intent with a gorgeous cover-drive that sped to the fence, but was then flummoxed by a beautiful delivery that appeared to take a thick inside edge onto the pad before being grabbed by Kamal at silly point. But despite an impassioned appeal, Koertzen was unmoved.
The introduction of Abdul Razzaq, who bowled 17 straight overs either side of lunch, was the signal to accelerate, with Sehwag slamming an audacious low six off the first ball he bowled. While Sehwag focused on picking off Kaneria's offerings with consummate ease, Tendulkar concentrated his energies on Razzaq, stroking two glorious straight-drives, and a couple of magnificent off-drives.
A sweetly timed sweep for four off Kaneria took Sehwag to 150, and minutes later, another lofted sweep sailed over the head of Salman Butt, hopelessly out of position and flailing like a drowning man on the square-leg boundary. It was exhilarating stuff, until lunch induced a torpor that couldn't be shaken off.
How they were out:
Rahul Dravid c Kamal b Sami 50 (216 for 2) Cut a ball that was too close to his body for Asim Kamal to take a straightforward chance at gully.
Virender Sehwag c Youhana b Razzaq 173 (334 for 3) Mistimed a pull to deep mid-on.
Sourav Ganguly c Butt b Kaneria 21 (381 for 4) Didn't read the one that turned away from him, and went off his pad onto the splice of the bat, and then into the hands of silly point.
Sachin Tendulkar c Kamal b Naved-ul-Hasan 94 (417 for 5) Played away from the body and sliced the ball to gully where Kamal took a fine catch diving low to his right.
Dinesh Karthik c Naved-ul-Hasan b Sami 6 (444 for 6) A nothing-shot that looped up to short square leg, where Naved took the simplest of catches.
Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana produced defiant and beautiful innings, while Asim Kamal reprised his first-innings heroics with an assured 48, but by the end of the fourth day, Pakistan were still staring at an ignominious defeat, 53 runs ahead with only four wickets in hand. Lakshmipathy Balaji, who followed up his 5 for 76 in the first innings with another superb exhibition of swing and seam bowling, did the early damage, but it was the peerless Anil Kumble who winkled out the big two, trapping Inzamam leg before and bowling Youhana off his boot.
Inzamam had driven, bludgeoned and caressed his way through a sublime innings, and with Youhana offering stylish support, Pakistan whittled away at the 204-run deficit with real purpose until Kumble stepped in to have a say. When Inzamam was dismissed mere minutes before tea, the pendulum once again swung sharply towards India, but Kamal added 44 with Youhana, and 50 with Abdul Razzaq – who sacrificed reckless flair for some much-needed circumspection – to keep hope afloat. Again, it was Balaji that turned destroyer, getting Kamal with a delivery that should serve as an example to his team-mates and opponents on how to bowl in such conditions.
The early afternoon had been all about Inzamam. To say that he batted beautifully for his 86 would be an understatement. He eased his bulk into some gorgeous drives, and timed the ball with a sweetness that lesser lights couldn't even fathom. A back-foot punch through cover off Zaheer Khan screamed magnificence, as did the almost casual step-out-and-loft that sent a Kumble delivery soaring over the fence at long-on.
His mastery also inspired the best of Youhana, who overcame some early tests against Irfan Pathan to play some superb drives and flicks himself. When the two of them were adding 139 – their eighth century partnership together – at better than four an over, there were quite a few furrowed faces in the Indian camp. The ease with which they batted also illustrated just how well the pitch was playing, and how hard the bowlers had to work for their rewards.
Kamal's too was a fine hand. Dropped twice by Rahul Dravid off Kumble's bowling almost as soon as he came to the crease, he celebrated the second reprieve with a delicate late-cut and two splendid off-drives in successive deliveries. Youhana's departure didn't stem the momentum either, with a calculated heave for six over midwicket giving Pakistan the lead. He drove as fluently as he had in the first innings, and was only troubled occasionally by the guile and variations of Kumble.
It had been all India when Pakistan emerged to wipe off a 204-run deficit an hour before lunch. Balaji had struck in his first over, with Taufeeq Umar sending back a loopy return catch. And when Younis Khan bizarrely shouldered arms in his next over, Pakistan were once again off to the stumbling start that they have become accustomed to in recent times. Salman Butt's inability to keep his bat down while ducking added to their woes, and Balaji could well have caused more trouble had a couple of edges from Inzamam gone to hand.
The top-order debacle took the sheen off what had been a good session for Pakistan, with Danish Kaneria the morning star. VVS Laxman stroked his way to 58, and there was an entertaining 31-run cameo from Balaji, but Kaneria dominated proceedings, picking up all four wickets to fall in an engrossing 80-minute passage of play.
Pathan started the day with two well-timed pulls and a fluid cover-drive for four off Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, but his decision to give Kaneria's googly the charge was a poor one, resulting in a regulation stumping for Kamran Akmal (465 for 7). Balaji, who arrived to a rousing reception, wasn't about to go quietly though, and after a streaky edge had got him going, he picked off 14 in a Kaneria over that included a cracking square-drive and the sort of cover-drive which would have left a top-order batsman mighty chuffed.
In next to no time, he had added 42 with Laxman, and it was left to Kaneria – who doesn't seem perturbed by anything – to induce an edge off a legbreak (507 for 8). Laxman, who had eased past 50, departed soon after, bowled while trying to smash a googly away, and when Zaheer patted a return catch back a few seconds after the drinks break, it was all over with India 204 runs in the black. Pakistan knew that they needed to survive at least four sessions to make a match of it, but despite minor masterpieces from Inzamam and Youhana, bitter defeat is likely to be their lot in Mohali.
How they were out
India 1st innings
Pathan st Akmal b Kaneria 13 (465 for 7) Charged a googly and played inside the line, stumped by yards.
Balaji c Akmal b Kaneria 31 (507 for 8) Edged a legbreak to the keeper.
Laxman b Kaneria 58 (516 for 9) Bowled off the inside edge trying to cut a googly away.
Zaheer c&b Kaneria 0 (516 for 10) Drove back a tossed-up delivery.
Pakistan 2nd innings
Taufeeq c&b Balaji 4 (6 for 1) The ball looped off the pad and brushed the back of his bat on the way back to the bowler.
Younis b Balaji 1 (10 for 2) Offered no shot to a ball that pitched just outside off stump and darted back in.
Salman c Karthik b Pathan 5 (10 for 3) Caught behind after ducking a bouncer that didn't rise, with his bat pointing skyward like a TV antenna.
Inzamam lbw b Kumble 86 (149 for 4) Had a good stride forward but, as in the first innings, he was rapped low on the pad while not really attempting a stroke. Darrell Hair upheld the appeal after a moment's thought.
Youhana b bowled Kumble 68 (193 for 5) A defensive prod trickled onto the stumps via the pad and the back of his boot.
Kamal lbw b Balaji 48 (243 for 6) Trapped plumb in front by a full delivery that swung in and moved off the seam.
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Akmal and Razzaq save the Test
Pakistan 312 (Kamal 91, Balaji 5-76) and 496 for 9 dec (Akmal 109, Inzamam 86, Razzaq 71, Youhana 68) drew with India 516 (Sehwag 173, Tendulkar 94, Kaneria 6-150) and 85 for 1
Four years on from the Ides of March that tormented Steve Waugh in Kolkata, India were at the receiving end of a rearguard action that is certain to go down in the annals. Kamral Akmal, who had suggested very little by way of batting ability in his previous ten Tests, thwarted India with a quite magnificent century as Pakistan batted with composure and comfort to ensure that the Mohali Test would end in a draw. But just as crucial as Akmal's stroke-filled 109 was a revelatory innings of 71 from Abdul Razzaq, who eschewed his attacking instincts to defy the Indians for 346 minutes and 260 balls. Like Casanova doing penance in a monastery under an order of silence, Razzaq's innings was remarkable for its focus, and it provided Akmal with a platform to play some glorious strokes.
Akmal and Razzaq batted together for 56.1 overs, adding 184 and shutting India out of the game. By the time Inzamam called his players in – Rana Naved-ul-Hasan contributed a breezy 38 for good measure – India were left to score 293 to win in 25 overs. When play was called off nine overs early, with Sehwag (36) just having been stumped, they had reached 85, a million miles from the victory that had appeared inevitable in the morning.
Pakistan had started the final day just 53 ahead and with only four wickets standing, but they sauntered unharmed through the opening session, adding 112 runs and suddenly glimpsing the safe shores of a draw. They were aided and abetted by a pallid Indian bowling performance that became ragged and indisciplined as the morning wore on.
Having taken the new ball within six overs of the restart, India wasted it by failing to bowl the right channels and lengths. With the exception of Lakshmipathy Balaji, who beat the bat a few times with late movement, the bowlers failed to ask questions of the batsmen, who became increasingly comfortable and confident as the session wore on.
Akmal, who started the day with the finest of tickles off the pads for four when Kumble strayed down the leg side, was sensational. Unfairly compared to Moin Khan – he's a far more accomplished keeper – in the batting stakes, he chose the most vital innings of his nascent career to showcase his qualities. When he drove, it was with a flourish, and on the couple of occasions when he edged the ball, he went at it so hard that it made the slips redundant.
Zaheer Khan, who combined some fine deliveries with hit-me balls, was cut and guided away for four to third man, while Kumble, who grew ever more frustrated, was late cut and driven with panache through the covers. At the other end, Razzaq was content to rotate the strike and strike the odd powerful blow when the mood took him. In desperation, Sourav Ganguly turned to Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, but nothing worked and as the lead swelled past 150, the despair was visible on a few Indian faces.
An over from Kumble a quarter of an hour before lunch encapsulated the morning. After Darrell Hair had mistakenly signaled four byes – the ball went off Akmal's body – the next ball was slog-swept for four. And when Kumble tried to spear the next one towards leg stump, it evaded both the batsmen and the keeper to add to the byes column.
It got no better after lunch with Zaheer bowling a whole succession of mindless short-pitched balls on a surface that was certainly no WACA. One of them hit Razzaq, but didn't faze him a bit. A ball after Ganguly had put down a difficult chance running to deep mid-on off Kumble, Razzaq finally decided to free his arms and thump one a few miles over the fence at long-on. It was exhilarating stuff, and minutes later, there was more euphoria in the Pakistani dressing room as Akmal, who had progressed to 99 with the help of a fine leg-glance and a superb cut, smacked a cover-drive off Kumble to bring up three figures.
Balaji, the only pace bowler to fathom the right length to bowl on this pitch, got him soon after, lofting one to Harbhajan at cover (427 for 7), but by then, the result was not in doubt. Razzaq's vigil ended soon after, with the luckless Kumble finally inducing an edge through to Dravid – who overcame a recent bout of butterfingers to hold on at the third attempt.
The game meandered after that, with Naved's big-hitting and a few meaty blows from Sehwag having an exhibition air to them. For India, the sins of the third afternoon when they wasted time and run-scoring opportunities had come back to deservedly kick them in the teeth, and thoughts of victory songs were rudely dismissed by the brilliance and tenacity of two men who refused to accept that defeat was an option.
How they were out
India 2nd innings
Sehwag c Akmal b Younis 36 (85 for 1) Stumped by yards while trying to feast on Younis Khan's buffet bowling.
Pakistan 2nd innings
Akmal c Harbhajan b Balaji 109 (427 for 7) Drove a Balaji delivery straight to the substitute fielder at cover.
Razzaq c Dravid b Kumble 71 (436 for 8) Edged a legbreak to slip, where it was taken after a couple of fumbles.
Sami c&b Kumble 10 (467 for 9) Brilliantly caught one-handed by Kumble diving to his left off his own bowling.
Bush_Blasta
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wait lemme get this straight
so far, what is the stats for the Test match series like, how many test matchs did Pak win and how many India won. and how many more left before the ODI?
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Bush_Blasta said:
wait lemme get this straight
so far, what is the stats for the Test match series like, how many test matchs did Pak win and how many India won. and how many more left before the ODI?
and like the ODI is the important match right?
this is a 3 test match series and first test match is tied (no one won), so 2 more test matches left
ODI is as important as test match...as a matter of fact, test matches r more important and that's why not all da cricket playing nations do not have test status...u have to show performance in ODI's to get test status
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oye bacha liya pak ko akmal and razzaq ne it was more like team effort of middle order (inzi, youhana, asim, akmal razzaq) our top order batting still sucked still i'm happy k we didn;t lose
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Bush_Blasta said:
wait lemme get this straight
so far, what is the stats for the Test match series like, how many test matchs did Pak win and how many India won. and how many more left before the ODI?
and like the ODI is the important match right?
test matches takes 5 days...each they have to play 90 overs
When the India-Pakistan series started, it was expected that the pitches would be dry and dusty to aid India's spinners. However, the Mohali surface had a fair sprinkling of grass and, if media reports are to be believed, the pitch at Eden Gardens, the venue of the second Test, is also likely to aid the seamers.
A report in The News, a Pakistan daily, suggests that a green-top awaits Inzamam-ul-Haq and his team in Kolkata. The newspaper quoted Inzamam as saying: "From what we have heard they have left a lot of grass on the pitch and have no plans to cut it down. By the look of things they are aiming to target us with their full pace attack."
The Indians handled Pakistan's pace attack with ease at Mohali, but struggled against Danish Kaneria, who bowled with relentless accuracy and guile for 53.4 overs in the Indian first innings, returning figures of 6 for 150. In contrast, Pakistan's fast bowlers had combined figures of 4 for 360 from 94 overs. India's star bowler, though, was medium-pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who came up with match figures of 9 for 171. Anil Kumble had a reasonably successful match too, but his six wickets cost him 236 runs.
If the pitch does turn out to be a grassy one, the Indian think-tank will have a tough decision on their hands over which spinner to omit – Kumble has been in tremendous form in Tests, but Harbhajan Singh has an outstanding record at Eden Gardens – 29 wickets in four Tests at 18.75.
Pakistan have never lost to India at this venue: they have won one Test and drawn four, and have beaten India in all three one-day internationals. The only international match they have lost here was to Sri Lanka in the second final of the Independence Cup. (Click here for
Rahul Dravid scored an exquisite hundred to keep India, who were given a typically blistering start by Virender Sehwag, ahead for the better part of the day, but Pakistan worked their way back in to the game with a spurt of wickets at the close. India had been coasting at 278 for 2 when Sachin Tendulkar was out for 52, and Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman followed soon after. Dravid was out for 110 in the last over of the day, and a dominant position had turned into one of just a slight advantage.
There was no assistance in the Eden Gardens pitch for the bowlers. Much of the grass that had been on a couple of days before the Test had been shaved off, and Pakistan's bowling in the first two sessions was sometimes wayward, mostly ineffectual. The Indian batsmen were unworried and assured.
The morning belonged to Virender Sehwag. Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, had said before the game: "We will not give [Sehwag] a car." But Sehwag did get the automobile in question, as the bowlers strayed. Mohammad Sami was too full, and often wide, and struggled to find rhythm. Mohammad Khalil, brought into the side in place of the injured Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, bowled better, but Sehwag's back-foot defence sufficed. He was never tempted into the pull, and was brutal when he got space on the off side.
Danish Kaneria was brought on as early as the tenth over, but Sehwag read him like a favourite book. Kaneria did get Gautam Gambhir's wicket, but was otherwise a benign force. Dravid played him with utter ease, and Pakistan sweated in vain.
Shahid Afridi, brought into the side in place of Salman Butt, showed how useful the fifth bowler could be with a probing spell after lunch, in which he frustrated Sehwag out. Sehwag mistimed a heave and Inzamam-ul-Haq, not a nimble mover but a committed man, took a good catch at cover, running backwards.
Tendulkar took 19 balls to open his account, but the quality of the cover-drive that got him his first runs was so outstanding that there was no question of his form. He batted solidly, and played some delicate strokes on both sides of the wicket. At 2.39pm, with an on-side dab, Tendulkar brought up his 10,000th run in Test cricket.
But it was Dravid who was the star of the day. His innings was flawless. He was his usual assured self in defence, so much so that the act of bowling to him seemed an exercise in futility. His driving and cutting had both classicism and artistry, his concentration was as relentless as the sun that beat down upon the field, and as frustrating for Pakistan on a warm and humid day.
Dravid added 122 with Tendulkar, who batted more and more freely as the innings went on, but the end of the partnership brought on a mini-collapse. First Tendulkar was out, caught behind after chasing a wide ball from Afridi. Then Sourav Ganguly, after scratching around unconvincingly, flashed at a good-length ball outside the off stump and was caught behind. VVS Laxman was leg-before first ball, and Pakistan had fought back.
Afridi chuffed in like a fast bowler, Razzaq and Sami bent their backs, but it was Kaneria who had the last word of the day, drawing Dravid forward and inducing an edge with a legspinner. As at Mohali, Pakistan had begun badly but recovered well. Here, though, they had come back on the first day itself. What would happen on the second?
How they were out
Gautam Gambhir lbw b Kaneria 29 (80 for 1) Tried to sweep and was rapped on the front foot by an overpitched googly. Fair decision.
Virender Sehwag c Inzamam b Afridi 81 (156 for 2) Went for a mighty heave, mish*t the ball, and was caught by Inzamam-ul-Haq, running backwards from cover.
Sachin Tendulkar c Akmal b Afridi 52 (272 for 3) Chased a wide legspinner, bottom-edged to the keeper.
Sourav Ganguly c Akmal b Razzaq 12 (298 for 4) Flashed at a good-length ball outside off, caught behind
VVS Laxman lbw Razzaq 0 (298 for 5) Played down the wrong line to an inswinger
Rahul Dravid v Akmal b Kaneria 110 (344 for 6) Played forward and edged a legbreak
man he's too good & explosive 
pak ki team ka nahi pata,,,awien chor rahe ho 
thanx to mid order (INZI, YOUSAF, ETC) or we would probably have had an innings defeat 
