After all the waiting, India enjoyed the best of the opening skirmishes in Ahmedabad. So many under-fire home players but at least two restored their confidence on Day 1. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir relished their first century stand for yonks, then Viru progressed to one of his run-a-ball specials before missing a sweep off Graeme Swann. It's eleven years since his Test debut in South Africa, when he scored a relatively sedate 105 at six in the order, and two whole years since his last hundred, on the same ground.
That impressive debut in 2001 was shared with a big innings from Sachin Tendulkar but the Little Master looks a pale shadow of the batsman he was even a couple of years ago. He lasted a mere 18 balls before becoming Swann's third victim. This match gave Virat Kohli a chance to establish his true Test credentials but despite a very patient spell at the crease, he made only 19. Thank goodness for one other young star. Cheteshwar Pujara followed his 159 against New Zealand in August with an unbeaten 98, and I hope he quickly reaches three figures in the morning.
Yuvraj Singh, like Tendulkar, recently crashed a major score in a rare domestic first-class outing and he looked solid in partnership with Pujara. If the pair can continue until lunch, England will be looking down the barrel. However, Swann was beginning to get real grip and spin, and has reason to be optimistic about adding to his four wickets. Tim Bresnan suffered at the hands of Sehwag and Anderson couldn't get any swing. India's side is awash with slow bowlers so perhaps England will rue the inclusion of Patel instead of Panesar. We'll see.
I'm also nervous for Nick Compton. As a Somerset fan, part of me really wants him to do well as an ambasssador for his adopted county. However, should he notch up loadsa runs, he could end up with a central contract and then where will we be in the Championship next summer?! A Compton-Cook opening pair won't make for an exciting exhibition of strokeplay. I can't see our Nick becoming the second man in a few days striking a six from the first ball of a Test match innings, a la Gayle. Of course, that's not why he was picked; the fireworks are Pietersen's prerogative.We'll know in the next few days whether he marks his return with a Sehwag rocket or Tendulkar damp squib.
