Runs were expected to flow from the willows of the Indian batsmen when skipper Rahul Dravid opted to bat first in the morning. But they treaded a cautious path on the opening day of the four-day practice game against Sussex at the Hove Cricket Ground here on Saturday.
Despite their measured approach in the beginning and middle overs, India ended up with a satisfactory 281 for three at close of play. The brisk 75-run fourth-wicket partnership between Rahul Dravid, who was dropped on 11 by Chris Lidlle off Michael Yardy, and VVS Laxman made that possible.
Earlier in the day, Gautam Gambhir and Dinesh Kaarthick gave the visitors a sound platform during their 129-run second-wicket alliance.
Point to prove
Gambhir had a small point to prove after his two cheap dismissals in the one-dayers against South Africa in Belfast recently. The Delhi batsman put those ugly memories behind him to play a controlled innings, curbing a tendency to flash outside the off-stump that has often pushed him to his peril in the past.
Gambhir played with the kind of patience that can seldom be associated with him, and the result was there for all to see as he made a solid fifty that could raise his stock in the eyes of team management ahead of the first Test, starting in less than two weeks’ time at Lord’s. A bit of impatience -- for the first time on the day when the sun shone brightly throughout -- ended his tenure.
The diminutive opener's attempt to heave Sussex skipper Yardy out of the park resulted only in im putting up a simple return catch to the bowler. Kaarthick had underlined his progress as a mature and confident frontline batsman with yet another solid knock, while dominating his partnership with Gambhir.
By no stretch of the imagination is the Sussex attack the most frightening going around in the English County circuit. But the reigning county champions have a good enough attack at their disposal and they did trouble the Indian batsmen in the early period when their bowlers procured considerable bounce off the pitch. The new-ball pair of James Kirtley and Jason Lewry was impressive during their opening spells.
Jaffer at sea
Wasim Jaffer, who consumed 20 balls before opening his account, looked all at sea before edging an outgoing delivery from pacer Robin Martin-Jenkins to wicket-keeper Andrew Hodd.
Kaarthick, by contrast, was on cruise mode and in complete control of the proceedings right from the word go. None of the bowlers – created any impression on him as he displayed an array of delectable shots on either side of the wicket. The only time the Tamil Nadu youngster appeared in trouble was when Chris Nash -- who performed the captain's duties till Yardy reached the ground from London -- introduced off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The Pakistan tweaker showed that despite his lack of international outings in recent years, he has not lost any of his guile.
Saqlain strikes
The Indian opener push-ed tentatively at Saqlain, but Michael Thornly, making his first-class debut, grassed the chance at forward short-leg when Kaarhick had just crossed his thirty. However, Saqlain had the last laugh when he castled Kaarthick with a straighter one in the last over before the tea.
India opted to rest senior pros Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan and fielded both Yuvraj Singh and Laxman in the playing eleven.
Kerala pacer S Sreesanth too returned to the side after missing the three-match one-day series against South Africa.
Sussex also rested some key players. Regular skipper Chris Adams was replaced by Yardy and former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin, in excellent form this season, was also given the game off.
SCORE BOARD
INDIANS (I Innings): Dinesh Kaarthick b Saqlain 76 (177b, 10x4), Wasim Jaffer c Hodd b Jenkins 12 (47b, 1x4), Gautam Gambhir c&b Yardy 81 (167b, 7x4), Rahul Dravid (batting) 57 (92b, 4x4), VVS Laxman (batting) 37 (58b, 6x4). Extras (B-11, LB-5, W-1, NB-1) 18. Total (for 3 wickets, 90 overs) 281.
Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Jaffer), 2-166 (Kaarthick), 3-206 (Gambhir).
Bowling: Jason Lewry 14-5-38-0, James Kirtley 18-6-56-0, Robin Martin-Jenkins 13-2-29-1, Chris Liddle 15-1-48-0 (w-1), Saqlain Mushtaq 19-4-47-1 (nb-1), Michael Yardy 9-1-33-1, Oley Rayner 2-0-14-0.