Indians fall to Hussain’s masterplan

It isn’t, apparently, for their opponents. The secret was today revealed by the injured Andrew Caddick: ‘‘Nasser and Duncan work to a plan and nine times out of ten it does work.’’ Today, it did. To a T.

Anyway, those doubts over the follow-on were dispelled soon after England went into bat. At the close of play, Hussain’s decision seemed prescient. England were 184-3, a lead of 450 and Vaughan and Crawley comfortably ensconced with Stewart yet to come.

Though Zaheer and Nehra got enough movement, in an obvious attempt to bring pressure, introduced Anil Kumble in the ninth over. Kumble didn’t disappoint his skipper, his very first ball striking Mark Butcher low on the pad. He was LBW at 18.

Immediately afterwards Agarkar’s bouncing delivery found the edge of Hussain’s bat and landed in Ratra’s gloves, the first-innings hero leaving with just 12 runs against his name. And Thorpe failed to find his rhythm again. He lofted Kumble into the covers where Ganguly took a smart catch.

At 76 for three India seemed to have regained some of the initiative. But that was not to be. Vaughan and John Crawley re-established their team’s supremacy and frustrated the Indian attack completing a valuable 100-run partnership..

The day began with an overcast sky. Swinging deliveries away from the batsman, with occasional reverse swing and superb fielding, the English were working to a plan.

After India resumed at 130 for three, new batsman Tendulkar looked unsure right from the beginning. At the other end, Dravid was diligently marching towards his half-century. He was on 46 when a rising delivery from Hoggard took the top end of his bat and the catch was taken at gully. At 162 for 4 India began to slide.

Eight runs later, it was time for Tendulkar to go. The English bowlers knew that once frustrated Tendulkar tends to make mistakes. Craig White persistently aimed at outside off stump until Tendulkar chased one such delivery, playing too close to his body and top edging the ball to Stewart.

The Nasser-Duncan plan, being implemented with precision, was bringing desired results. The credit must go to English bowlers. Hoggard’s three for 33 was a remarkable performance but the honours were evenly shared. Flintoff, White and Jones taking two wickets each and Giles had the consolation of removing Sehwag, the most successful batsman of the first innings.