Mohali Test, Day 1, Close
Monday, December 3, 2001

Harbhajan Singh found the kind of bounce in India that he didn't on South African wickets to come up with a bowling display that showed he is back in business. The track did not afford him spin, but he exploited the bounce to the full to reap another five-wicket haul.

There should be no doubt in anybody's mind now that the make of the ball has a huge bearing in his performance. The SG ball that is used in this match is very much to his liking and one could see how he relished bowling with it from the manner in which he bowled the topspinners.

It was really nice to see him dismissing a batsman caught by a fielder not stationed in the close-in cordon when Andy Flintoff stepped down the wicket and tried to hit him out of the ground, but only got a leading edge to the fielder at point. Harbhajan should retain the dismissal in his memory and try that more often in future, especially on tracks that do not give him much assistance.

The line that Harbhajan bowled is what I was harping about right through the tour of South Africa. Happily for India, he did that bowl that line today because he brought the topspinner and the straighter ball more into play than he did on the recent tour.

Anil Kumble played a support role and the couple of wickets that he picked up will do his low morale a world of good. He looks more assured now - that augurs well for India.

The batting display of England's No 8, 9, 10 and 11 must have made India very happy while giving the England think-tank really something to ponder. The England tail showed very poor technique on a pitch that had precious little for the spinners, and I shudder to think what they will do on a pitch more responsive to Harbhajan and Kumble.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly has this tendency of just writing off talent. You could see that he was totally disillusioned by Sanjay Bangar. The same was the case with Iqbal Siddiqui, who should have been introduced into the attack straight after lunch. Ganguly's not really doing the player or the team any good by this attitude. Once an eleven has been selected, he has to get the best out of them. Fortunately for him, Harbhajan and Kumble did the job today - but to be honest he did not handle the seamers well.

Sanjay Manjrekar, mainstay of the Indian batting in the late '80s and early '90s, was talking to H Natarajan.

More from Manjrekar
Kumble's lucky strike
Nervy start from debutants

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