Port Elizabeth Test, Day 1, Tea
Friday, November 16, 2001

India faced a real threat of being shunted out of the game and in that respect the middle session was very crucial for them. To their credit, they managed to exert pressure on South Africa. And if they can pick up Herschelle Gibbs early on after tea, they may still come back strongly into the game and surprise South Africa.

Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers and he was able to exert pressure on the South African batsmen. Gibbs was aware that his wicket could swing the balance on a pitch that is not perfect for batting and thus curbed his attacking instincts. I think the Indians would have done well to test him with a bouncer directed at his body followed by a ball that leaves him.

What can one say about Anil Kumble! The whole world has seen his limitations as a bowler and he looks a shadow of himself when playing overseas. And his record abroad is clearly embarrassing - 105 wickets from 31 Tests. It's clear now that he ceases to be a force once he leaves India.

Sourav Ganguly baffled me by not employing Tendulkar. This has become a feature of Ganguly's captaincy, who either overbowls or completely ignores him. Tendulkar has got a good straighter one and on this pitch would have been productive. He could have been given a couple of overs before tea.

All said and done, India go into tea with some hope for the day's final session.

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

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