English fare at Sachin’s party

Soon after tea Vaughan reached his fourth hundred (195b, 13×4) of this summer in England and a feat only four other batsmen — Graham Gooch, Allan Lamb, Hurbert Sutcliffe and Dennis Compton — have achieved before.

With Vaughan still going strong, 336 for two at stumps on the opening day is a pretty daunting score and, if the Indian attack remains as helpless as it was today, they are surely heading for trouble.

The day began with a little celebration for Sachin Tendulkar who reached another milestone to become the youngest batsman to play his 100th Test. A smartly dressed Sharad Pawar, the president of Maharashtra Cricket Association, presented him a colourful plaque commemorating his extraordinary journey that began in 1989 with a fiery baptism amidst the bouncers of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.

Before the action began, Tendulkar, with 8351 runs and a phenomenal average of 57.99 runs, announced, ‘‘I am in good touch.’’ And he humbly promised to provide ‘‘five days of good cricket.’’ Remember, this was the man who, only a few weeks ago, according to some cricket pundits, was supposed to have been possessed with ‘some technical glitches.’

The Oval is not what it used to be — England’s fastest and bounciest pitch. Yet the cool September morning under the sunny haze could have helped the Indian attack, but Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar failed to exploit the elements of weather.

They produced enough swing, but failed to give it the intended direction; they produced enough pace but failed to hit the right spot and strike a right line. Their mediocrity emboldened the English openers as Marcus Trescothick mercilessly dispatched Zaheer’s third ball of the innings over the boundary ropes to indicate what was in store for the Indians.

Wayward Agarkar too did not miss the punishment and this forced Indian skipper to introduce spinners as early as in the 12th over. Harbhajan produced some vicious turn, hinting that the Oval could be spinner’s paradise, only if they could exploit it.

However, success continued to elude them until Trescothick decided to hook a Zaheer bouncer to top edge to Sanjay Bangar, who had to move backwards to grab a difficult catch. Trescothick made 57 with eight boundaries. A ceaselessly nail-biting Ganguly knew that 98/1 was no big achievement and Trescothick’s wicket was just a pre-lunch consolation.

Butcher began nervously, particularly against Harbhajan. At lunch England were 113 for one. Michael Vaughan, at the other end, cautiously continued to pile up runs. He would have followed Trescothick at 59 when Butcher sent him back on what looked a very risky single. But Ganguly’s poor throw reprieved him.

It was a costly mistake that might have an ultimate bearing on the Test as well as the series. Vaughan progressed cautiously but surely towards another landmark century. At tea he was at 92 and England on 201 for one.

Vaughan’s run riot continued in the final session. Even the experienced Kumble came in for severe punishment as he conceded three boundaries in an over. Harbhajan, who was getting enough turn, finally had Butcher when he tried to sweep him. The ball kissed his gloves and the back of his bat for Rahul Dravid take an easy catch. Butcher lasted 145 deliveries and made 54. The Indian skipper must be a worried man, particularly after their dreadful day on the field today. The Indians, who will have a sleepless night, would not only pray for their bowlers to do well but also expect Sachin to repeat the feat of Vaughan to have any hope in the Test.