Pugnacious Dhoni stands out on England's day

It was a sense of deja vu. India were put into bat on Day 1 by England at the Oval in the penultimate (but series deciding) test match of the Investec Test Series, and barring the Indian captain, Dhoni, the scorecard wore a sorry face. Dhoni showed his teammates how to go about things in such conditions and bettered his 70 he made in the last test. Dhoni once again walked in when India were in deep deep trouble. He walked into bat at 8 for 4 in the disastrous innings India had at Manchester, while he came to the crease today when the scoreboard read 36 runs for Team India. Yet India managed to salvage some decency to the score albeit not enough, ending at 148 all out. Dhoni batted bravely and did what he had to with no nervousness and muddle in his mind as he lost partners at the other end. He added 58 runs with Ishant Sharma for the last wicket. Until that partnership, India stared at the prospect of being bowled out for under 100 runs on the board (Varun Aaron was scalped by Chris Woakes when the score read 90) Indian famed batting line up was exposed by the pace quartet of England (Anderson, Broad, Jordan and Woakes). For once, the backup bowlers en-cashed on the good work done by the opening bowlers Anderson and Broad. Jordan and Woakes shared 6 wickets between them. England were relentless. It was top quality bowling and toothless batting from the majority of the Indians.

Murali Vijay labored to a 64 ball 18, and when he was dismissed  a similar script started to enfold as was at Manchester. On a pitch like this, it helps to spend some time at the crease. Things ease out, bowlers tire, and one can hope to cling on and play a long hand. Only Dhoni (209 minutes), Murali Vijay (92 minutes) and Ishant Sharma (71 minutes) stayed for more than 60 minutes at the crease. Ishant's effort was laudable. Vijay once again looked determined to play a long hand. The strokemakers fell around him in a heap all perishing to nothing strokes. Gambhir edging one while leaving a ball (his first ball !!). Pujara bamboozled right through his defence (I suspect a glaring lack of confidence with the way he has been getting dismissed). Rahane playing into the hands of Jordan offering a difficult return catch. Kohli came and went. And, by the time Vijay departed, it was time for me to switch off the idiot box and do something else (more worthwhile, eh)

England came out to bat hoping to avoid any damage and they did achieve that, albeit with a generous doze of edges and flirtations outside the off stump. Even Stuart Binny in his two overs looked like getting a edge from Cook's willow. But it was not to be, and England ended at 62/0 making it entirely their day. Sam Robson looked more focused and intent between him and Cook. The Australian born batsman looks like a batsman with a good compact technique and a determined approach. He may be ungainly but has had a good start to his test career with a best of 127 earlier this year and is expected to stop the musical chair at the top of the order in pursuit of finding a successor to Andrew Strauss. (England have already experimented with Nick Compton, Michael Carberry et al)

Expect some fire from the likes of Ishant, Bhuvi and Varun Aaron tommorrow in the morning half. It all depends on how England openers weather the storm. A lot will be expected of Ishant. He used the short ball stuff to good effect in the Lords test to achieve his career best figures of 7/64. What will he do at the Oval. If the openers go back early, India will have the onus on themselves to make a match of it. Otherwise, I am afraid, this is going to be another 3 or 4 day affair.