full, punched down the ground and that's the Test
India vs England, 1st Test at Ahmedabad, Nov 15 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Presentation time...Alastair Cook: "We can look at a number of reasons why we didn't win, but our first innings wasn't good enough. It was a great fightback, there was a glimmer of hope, but it always had to be something special. We'll work hard going into Mumbai. The pitch got slower as the game went on. We need runs in the first innings, they are crucial, and we need to keep working as hard as we can."
MS Dhoni: "There was something in the wicket to start with but as the game progressed there was low bounce but not much turn. It was hardwork for the spinners and it was a fantastic effort from them. Even if you misjudged the flight you had time to adjust and not much carried to the slips. It was important not to give many runs."
"It was a fantastic game for Pujara. He has the temperament to play big innings and has shown that on the domestic circuit. He makes sure he converts fifties to hundreds. Ojha looks to bowl tight and he knew it was up to him to take responsibility."
The Man of the Match is Cheteshwar Pujara: "The ball was coming nicely onto the bat. There was turn, but it was slow. As a team we knew we had to put up 500-plus and I had to hang around to play my role. In the second innings the ball was hard and I had a lot of confidence. I was out for almost a year and since I'm back I'm enjoying it."
Well, that just about wraps things up for the live coverage of this Test. First honours to India and well played to them. They were always favourites and showed why. Hard to see how England can come back, to be honest, but they have three Tests to try. David Hopps' match wrap is here for your reading pleasure. The second match starts in Mumbai on Friday and we'll be back to bring you all the action. But, for now, from Andrew McGlashan, Alan Gardner and Sidharth Monga it's goodbye.
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"Monty has to be in for the next match," says Tushar. "Without any dis-respect, he is not a world class bowler but a spinner in Indian conditions is always a handful. And Bresnan or Broad have to sit out (until they think about getting rid of Patel for a specialist batsman, which seems unlikely)."
Krithi says: "Now England can go ahead with their trip to local site-seeing."
Harish adds: "I would give all credit to England. The intent and fight that they showed in the second innings was exactly what India did not have during the last overseas season."
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India win by nine wickets and thoroughly deserve their victory. They have outplayed England since the first session of the match. Yes, they were made to work to dismiss them second time around but the first-innings advantage gave them plenty of breathing space. In many ways this match followed the path many expected: India dominating with the bat (after winning a good toss) then troubling England with spin. However, the success of their quick bowlers was a big plus-point for them. I think Duncan Fletcher even cracked a smile in the dressing room at the end, this was a result with his imprint all over it too.
For England there is plenty to ponder and much to be concerned about. Apart from Alastair Cook and Matt Prior (plus a little of Nick Compton) the batting was woeful on a surface that was never a minefield. With the ball it was only Graeme Swann that threatened with the pace bowlers poor. Did England get the team wrong? Always easy to assess in hindsight, of course but hard to see how the attack won't be changed for Mumbai. There will also need to be a change in the batting with Ian Bell going home for the birth of his child. Stick with us for the post-reaction which we hope to be able to bring you.
played softly square of the wicket and Trott fields from slip
defended to silly point
Scores are level
cut into the off side to point, Kohli races for the single and gets covered in dust for his efforts as he dives at the non-striker's end. That will add to the laundry list.
no messing about this time, taken from outside off and crunched down the ground straight of mid-on
defended to the on side
driven in the air and just past a diving Compton at short cover...was a fraction early on a shot to a ball that held in the surface
played to cover
pushed into the off side
thrown wider outside off, left alone
tossed up a little slower, 78kph, uses his feet but then defends when he's not quite to the pitch
defended to the off side
whipped to mid-on
full outside off, left alone
short from round the wicket, whipped neatly off the back foot through straight midwicket
tossed up on middle, Kohli drives and isn't far from lofting a catch to short cover
defended from middle stump to the off side
driven firmly back to the bowler
worked off middle stump into the leg side
spins away outside off, left alone
full on middle and off, defended