Bangalore Test, Day 3, Lunch
Friday, December 21, 2001

We have been treated to oustanding Test cricket this morning. There might not have been much entertainment for the spectators but as an ex-player, I could see how much of a test it was for the players out in the middle. The English bowlers have tested Sachin Tendulkar's powers of concentration and perseverance to the maximum and he has brought himself immense credit in the manner in which he has coped, though it remains to be seen how long he can carry on. By nature, he is such an aggressive and free-flowing strokemaker. This innings has been a real contrast.

England have done all the right things, made all the right moves. If I was Nasser Hussain, I would have done exactly the same things. There was a period of four or five overs though – just after Matthew Hoggard got Sourav Ganguly – when he could have attacked Tendulkar more with his seamers and tried to get him out.

Ganguly's form goes from bad to dismal. It's almost as if he now sees the ball as a grenade waiting to explode. Balls that he would normally drive for four are now being edged to second slip. His confidence is so low and the vulnerability to the short ball so predominant in his thoughts, that he is unable to capitalise on deliveries that he would normally put away with minimum fuss.

The newly-laid pitch has stood up to the test extremely well and there has been a lot of assistance for the seamers. Flintoff was a revelation yesterday, and this morning it was Hoggard's turn to do his captain proud. He bowled too full yesterday but was much improved this morning, having understood that there would be plenty of help from the pitch if he kept it just short of a length.

Tendulkar welcomed Sehwag's arrival at the crease with great excitement. If he has to play a big innings, it is absolutely vital that Sehwag stays there to play the supporting role. It gives us something to look forward to in the afternoon.

Sanjay Manjrekar, mainstay of the Indian batting in the late '80s and early '90s, was talking to Dileep Premachandran.

More from Manjrekar
Day 2, Close: The best two hours of the series

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd