Runs but not Test class

Mukund,Yuvraj make half-centuries but fail to show application; Tiwary scores 93

India A made 369 runs on Day One and three batsmen who are at the fringes of the Test side made half-centuries. But despite all the runs,none of them displayed enough of the elusive Test match temperament to seal the deal.

Abhinav Mukund made 73 at almost a run a ball,but was the beneficiary of the most streaky of starts,edging and leaving dangerously. Yuvraj Singh was seemingly stuck in limited overs mode. Dropped off the first ball,he smashed four sixes on the way to 59,but was out stumped to Graeme Swann. Manoj Tiwarys 150-ball 93 was possibly the most convincing of the three knocks,but unfortunately,despite the knock,he is still only a distant presence as far as the race for a Test match slot goes.

Suresh Raina,Yuvraj Singhs competitor for the number six slot,did not impress either,falling to the left arm spin of Samit Patel. The Englishman had otherwise gone for 95 runs in 20 overs. Overall,India A could lay claim to the opening day honours. But the day is sure to go down as one of wasted opportunities as far as the key players of the contest are concerned.

For the eighty minutes that he lasted Yuvraj Singh held court. The characteristic angular back-lift,the forceful shuffle down the wicket,the exaggerated flourish and even the slightly awkward stoop while defending against the fast bowlers,were back. The four sixes,including the lofted hit over Swanns head for his half-century,indicated that domination was Yuvraj Singhs agenda,not attrition. Soon,he perished by the sword,unable to get back into his crease off Swann.

aggressive drift

Yuvraj wasnt the only India A batsman to arrive at the crease all guns blazing on Tuesday. Mukund was not always convincing but rode out an edgy phase to hit 16 boundaries in his knock of 73. Where the duo failed was in getting carried away with the aggressive drift and not buckling down for a long haul.

The other three top order bats Murali Vijay,Ajinkya Rahane and Raina too didnt quite come to the party,leaving the selection panel with more niggling conundrums than definite answers. True to its nature,the CCI wicket did offer generous carry though the lateral movement was steady to James Anderson,Steven Finn and Bresnan.

Vijay looked to be stuck in T20 mode-with his running anyway-falling to an unnecessary and stupefying run-out in the early going. Rahane lasted 19 deliveries,before fending tepidly against a bouncer from Tim Bresnan and being caught at gully a ploy that the Englishmen have employed against him repeatedly over the last 12 months,and it ominously worked again. Raina too was out in convincing fashion for 20.

Tiwary,tail hang on

Story continues below this ad

Finding themselves at 168 for five,it was down to Tiwary and the tail to get India A back on track. Tiwary might not have quite been in actual contention for a Test spot going into the match but he did his chances no harm.

Though not as destructive as Yuvraj,the Bengal right-hander never let Swann and Samit Patel settle,adding 110 with Irfan Pathan for the seventh wicket. He was eventually out bowled to Bresnan,who finished with three wickets. It also did not help the English cause that Steve Finn pulled out after bowling only four overs due to a thigh niggle.

The plan for India A after skipper Suresh Raina elected to bat would have been to grind the visitors to dust,making them sweat under the Mumbai sun for the entire duration of the 90 overs. Eventually India A did succeed in that particular quest,but only because of Tiwary and the tail.

brief scores: India A 369/9 in 90 overs Manoj Tiwary 93,Abhinav Mukund 73,Yuvraj Singh 59,Irfan Pathan 46; Tim Bresnan 3/59,Graeme Swann 3/90 vs England XI