When India played Zimbabwe a month ago, it was Ray Price. And now, in the West Indies, it was Mahendra Nagamootoo who got the better of Sachin Tendulkar. The innings turned when Nagamootoo began his third spell. From the beginning of that spell to when Tendulkar was out, just before tea, West Indies bowled 16.5 overs, off which only 17 runs were scored. Nagamootoo bowled 34 balls to Tendulkar in this spell, off which Tendulkar scored just 5 runs, from three scoring strokes.

As many as 21 of those 34 balls were pitched on middle stump or middle-and-off. Bowling at a much quicker pace than most legspinners, Nagamootoo did not give the ball much air, and often made it skid through, unnerving Tendulkar with his changes of pace. Six of the 34 deliveries were googlies - a judicious mix, keeping Tendulkar wary.

The majority of the deliveries - 26 of them - were on good length, and all of Tendulkar's five runs came off these. He opted to go on the front-foot as often as 23 times, but got only one run off those deliveries. In contrast, he played 9 backfoot shots, and got 4 runs off them. He didn't step out even once to Nagamootoo - not surprising, given his pace.

It was hard to fathom that this was the same batsman who had once destroyed Shane Warne.

Amit Varma is assistant editor of Wisden.com India.

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