Which Englishman claimed the best innings analysis in India?
(30 November 2001)

In the first Test of a series that England went on to win by a comprehensive 3-1 margin, a young left-arm medium-pacer named John Lever made his debut. Starting off a Test career on the pace- hostile tracks of the sub-continent, and the particularly dusty Feroze Shah Kotla pitch in Delhi, must have been a harrowing thought, but Lever, when he donned his bowling shoes, had the comfort of a 381-run total, consisting largely of Deniss Amiss' 179, behind him.

Coming on as first change, Lever first broke a 43-run opening partnership where opening bowlers Chris Old and Bob Willis had failed. He then proceeded to wreak absolute havoc with India's top order, gleefully taking on the role of the fox among the chickens. India found themselves bowled out for 122, with Lever returning figures of 23-6-46-7.

Naturally enough, India followed on and were again bowled out, this time for 234. England won the match by an innings and 25 runs, with rookie Lever finishing with a ten-wicket haul and a sizzling start to his Test career.

Unfortunately for cricket and for Lever, the sizzle soon fizzled out. The ten-wicket bag remained Lever's only one, and he retired with 73 wickets from 21 Tests, by no means fulfilling the promise that his debut Test threw up. His first-innings performance, however, still stands as the best bowling by an Englishman in India.

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