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Twist and turn

A match that seemed to have been squarely conceded to New Zealand took a new twist from day two and into day three. India found a resolve that evened the prospects for both teams in this critical first Test, and then drove home the advantage on day three.

The resumption of play on the third morning introduced some intriguing options. India knew that they need bat for a day and a half more to pose some serious problems for the tourists, and they set about this task with application. Gandhi batted through the morning session for a modest 18. Ramesh was more positive, and this cost him his wicket when a front edge carried back to the persistent Vettori. Dravid's arrival almost coincided with the demise of Gandhi but Astle's valiant dive failed to retain a sharp slip chance. Thereafter, it was more stolid defiance until finally Astle himself penetrated with the ball, trapping Gandhi lbw.

At this moment an extraterrestrial viewer watching Cosmic TV could be excused for believing that the deity that is Tendulkar was responsible for his reincarnation. First ball from Astle was even more plumb lbw than Gandhi but for reasons connected with self-preservation, the umpire called not out. How can you give two successive lbws in India when a god is now batting?

I had the same experience in Pakistan in 1984 when I persuaded Moshin Khan to nick one, then forced an lbw from Qasim Omar, and watched in amazement and dismay when Javed Miandad survived a much straighter lbw than even Omar. The white-coated gentlemen led me gently away and explained why these things are necessary on the subcontinent.

Dravid and Sachin did not look back from there and have posted their half centuries, just like the openers did before them. Those who blamed the plethora of one-day internationals must have been impressed by the rapidity with which the Indian openers learned their lessons about Test match batting. They went about their task with concentration. The scoring rate was never electric but the power took hold as Ramesh and Gandhi showed correct technique and a quiet determination to gather runs as they became available. Steely resistance has been demonstrated by India's new opening pair. Ramesh now has some considerable experience, but until this match Gandhi had never played for India at any level. He deserves every credit for a splendid debut, especially after his initial duck. The two of them made the task of the stalwarts who followed them inestimably easier.

For the Black Caps, the key to the switch lay in the dismissal of Stephen Fleming, Kiwi captain and lynchpin of the visitors' batting performance on the second morning. Fleming played a long, patient, hand but fell just when it seemed he was infallible. He made the crucial error of playing slightly across the line to the persistent Srinath, after the latter had been brought back for his third spell at the bowling crease. There was no blatant breach of the batting code by Fleming. He has a splendid on-drive, one that he can often contrive to use to work the ball wide of mid-on and thus to the boundary. On this occasion the slight extra pace of Srinath beat him, found the pad, and for once, umpire Venkat raised his right index finger, not to adjust his glasses as is usually the case. Venkat's habit of pushing his glasses back on to the bridge of his nose is disconcerting to those unfamiliar with it. He makes the involuntary movement after every ball, but you know your fate when the hand goes out to the side like a railway signal man. Fleming's head went down as he trudged off, and his apprehension, because then came a collapse triggered by Srinath, a magnificent competitor who simply refuses to accept failure.

Over and over the ineffable Javagal has come on for India and produced the break, and on many occasions he has engineered the entire collapse. This was one of those occasions, his fine figures of 6 for 45 being as valuable to his side as those of Dion Nash were for New Zealand. It is Srinath who has really squared up the game. India should revere him.

Now, with the match past the halfway mark, India has a precious lead of 171 runs with eight second-innings wickets intact. The odds still rather favour India, for they will bowl last on a dusty, wearing pitch with the bounce disconcertingly uneven. This is where the inestimable Anil Kumble will threaten. He looks a defensive bowler until the pitch starts to help him. Then he becomes lethal, for those piercingly accurate finger-spun leg-breaks begin to turn across the batsmen. The bat's edge becomes the target and the grasping fieldsmen suddenly become busy.

This is the scenario that will pose the greatest problem for New Zealand. I am afraid there is not likely to be an adequate counter. India may win in the end, and if so it will come about because they have found some resolve and have clawed their way back from a seemingly impossible position. If the umpires use the same criteria in their subsequent rulings then there may be a fine finish to a keenly fought Test match! (Gameplan)

Martin Crowe