So what was the difference in the end? Both bowling sides had inexperienced fast bowlers who bowled really well - not scary or fearsome- but with hard work and passion. Zaheer Khan and Anderson deserved their reward of the Man of the Series for each side. However the difference came down to a few factors:
1. Openers- for a change the Indian flag was flying higher than their opponents in this department. Jaffer and Karthik gave what India deserved for decades- an opening pair who could ensure that the rest of the batsmen bat at meaningful batting orders.
2. Second new ball- India handled this phase better. Tendulkar played out Sidebottom making 3 of some 48 balls (2nd Test) and in the third test he made some 6 runs when Laxman added 30 in that phase. Tendulkar only began attacking after 110 overs and phased the team lower order to bat when the sun was shining hard on the English bowlers... Kumble and Dhoni made a lot more hay than expected! England always gave a wicket in the 2nd new ball, and opened the door to more wickets...and never really pushed the score to convincing volumes- as Vaughn admitted after the match.
Test matches demand 150 plus overs of play in the first innings.
3. Kumble v Monty- Experience v Youth? Monty Panesar could only do so much. There were phases when England did not give Kumble too much, but Kumble either got the early breakthroughs or cleaned up the tail (which has plagued India for years, not being able to knock the tail off, after making massive inroads).
Hope it all lasts for India. They better not fiddle around with the openers now.
Saumil
Mumbai
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