Sanjay Bangar rues missed opportunities
Sanjay Bangar, India's batting coach, rued the missed chances that allowed England to get into a position of strength at the end of Day 1 in the first Test between India and England in Rajkot on Wednesday (November 9). Alastair Cook was dropped twice - on 0 and 1 - by Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli, while Haseeb Hameed was put down by Murali Vijay.
"We could have definitely started well in that first session. Had we taken those catches we would probably have been asking questions of their middle order. But full credit to them; they fully utilised the conditions on offer," Bangar said in the press conference at the end of the day's play.
"In the first session of day one of a Test match there's something in the wicket. Whether you bat or bowl first, you need to make the first session count. There were unfortunately a couple of dropped catches which did not allow us to make those early dents into their bating line-up."
Later Joe Root and Moeen Ali put on a 179-run stand that allowed England to dominate the show. With the pitch not assisting the spinners too much, India were searching for other wicket-taking options. The best possible alternative was reverse swing. Both Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami got the ball to move around early. It was this that forced India to gamble against taking the second new ball as well when it became available.
"You must have noticed reverse swing was still on offer at that point time. Umesh Yadav put in a valiant effort when Shami was not available before and after tea for a particular amount of time. Umesh ran in well and gave us that breakthrough. He was very impressive - getting the ball to reverse both ways," Bangar explained.
However Shami, India's best asset to exploit reverse swing, suffered what appeared initially to be a hamstring injury. It forced him to go off the field for a while and placed the burden on Yadav to continue in search of wickets. Shami came on again later in the day but was still being attended to by the physio.
Bangar reckoned that the injury wasn't a serious one and was hopeful of Shami's return soon. "Physio told us it was muscular cramps. He took an ice-bath. He was fine to bowl after that," Bangar said. "But he's being monitored closely. Apart from cramps I don't think there's much to it. Hopefully he will be fresher and fitter tomorrow and ready to bowl in the first session."
"We could have definitely started well in that first session. Had we taken those catches we would probably have been asking questions of their middle order. But full credit to them; they fully utilised the conditions on offer," Bangar said in the press conference at the end of the day's play.
"In the first session of day one of a Test match there's something in the wicket. Whether you bat or bowl first, you need to make the first session count. There were unfortunately a couple of dropped catches which did not allow us to make those early dents into their bating line-up."
Later Joe Root and Moeen Ali put on a 179-run stand that allowed England to dominate the show. With the pitch not assisting the spinners too much, India were searching for other wicket-taking options. The best possible alternative was reverse swing. Both Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami got the ball to move around early. It was this that forced India to gamble against taking the second new ball as well when it became available.
"You must have noticed reverse swing was still on offer at that point time. Umesh Yadav put in a valiant effort when Shami was not available before and after tea for a particular amount of time. Umesh ran in well and gave us that breakthrough. He was very impressive - getting the ball to reverse both ways," Bangar explained.
However Shami, India's best asset to exploit reverse swing, suffered what appeared initially to be a hamstring injury. It forced him to go off the field for a while and placed the burden on Yadav to continue in search of wickets. Shami came on again later in the day but was still being attended to by the physio.
Bangar reckoned that the injury wasn't a serious one and was hopeful of Shami's return soon. "Physio told us it was muscular cramps. He took an ice-bath. He was fine to bowl after that," Bangar said. "But he's being monitored closely. Apart from cramps I don't think there's much to it. Hopefully he will be fresher and fitter tomorrow and ready to bowl in the first session."
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