When England won the last Test to be played here
in March 2006, they did
so with a top seven that had just 136 caps between them. It was Sachin
Tendulkar's 132nd game but once India blundered by opting to bowl first,
England relied on diligent batting and tremendously disciplined bowling to
script a famous 212-run victory. Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire provided the
soundtrack.
It's far too early to say which way this game will go, but the callow
nature of a West Indies batting line-up missing the experience of
Shivnarine Chanderpaul brought back memories of that match. England could
at least fall back on the example set by Andrew Flintoff, who was playing his 59th Test. West Indies have no one of comparable stature, with Marlon
Samuels - whose career has had more stops and starts than a cab in Mumbai
traffic - the most experienced batsman (36 games).
Between them, the six specialist batsmen and Carlton Baugh have played
fewer games (86) than Virender Sehwag, who is now just eight caps short of
hundred. But they were far from intimidated by the prospect of going
into the match without their experienced lynchpin.
Kraigg Brathwaite, who
made 68 and added 137 with Adrian Barath for the first wicket, suggested
that the approach had been no different even with the fulcrum taken away.
"As batsmen, we have to score runs," he said, speaking with the same
composure that marked his batting. "That's the bottom line."
The openers eased into proceedings slowly, cautious against Varun
Aaron's pace and not inclined to take risks till well into the second
hour. "The ball did a bit early on," said Brathwaite. "But it was a good
pitch, the best we've played on [in India] so far."
He bowled the odd full toss and strayed on to the pads occasionally, but R
Ashwin represented India's biggest wicket-taking threat, eventually
dismissing both openers. This was no spinner's paradise, though, with Brathwaite admitting that the ball turned so slowly that there was
ample time to adjust strokes.
"As openers, we looked to get through the first hour," he said. "After
that, we wanted to press on and give the team the best start possible."
VVS Laxman reprieved Brathwaite at leg slip when he had 57, but it was otherwise another impressive display in concentration and application.
"Playing against India in India and making two 50s has given me a lot of
confidence. It's not easy [Test cricket], but I have to keep
moving on from here."
With the openers having established a solid foundation, Kirk Edwards and
Darren Bravo cashed in with some gorgeous strokeplay in the final session.
On a surface where most batsmen will fancy a big score once set, neither
looked askance at the loose ball. Edwards dealt in power, while Bravo's
game was marked by his timing and placement.
"We'll look to bat two days, as India did in the last game," said a
confident Brathwaite. "The mood in the dressing room's bubbly and we'll
come out tomorrow and look to dominate."
India, for their part, will look to make sure that they aren't encircled
by another ring of fire.