Dravid seems to have come out swinging, but so far he hasn’t connected too much. Two dot balls from Broad followed by a single, an indication that he would be happier once he is done with this format of the game.
Rahane Gets 50 as India 79/1 After 10
At the other end, Rahane is well, showing the rest of the Indians how to pull. Changes in the field, square-leg pushed back and fine-leg called in and what does Rahane do? Shows that he can hit over the extra-cover as well. Two fours in a row to end the over.
India: 49/1 after 6 overs
Immediately with the six-over restrictions off, a spinner comes on. Samit Patel, one of the three Patels in the game, starts off but is immediately carved between the sweeper and the long-off. Two more runs to him and six off the over. Rahane seems to have thought long and hard about his batting in the time leading up to the game.
Can Dravid rotate the strike to give the ‘senior’ partner more strike?
India: 55/1 after 7 overs
Another spinner, as expected, the world’s best by a distance, Graeme Swann is on. Ravi Shastri makes a valid point on air, looking at Rahane’s body language does not betray that it is his debut. And almost on cue, Rahane charges down to Swann and again, targets the off-side. Four more.
So it was boundaries to the leg-side in the first six overs and now, with the field back, it is the off-side he is peppering. A delicate late cut to the third-man for a couple follows.
Dravid, at the other end, continues to struggle, but Kieswetter misses the stumping. Will the English be too unhappy given that the rest of the Indian batting line-up is a hard-hitting one.
India: 65/1 after 8 overs
Patel continues and a much better over. But Rahane gets to a maiden fifty on debut and it has been an exhibition of a batting display. Or rather, it has looked like the bowling has been an exhibition-match class bowling when he is on strike. 29 balls for that half-century.
Only six from the over but the good news is that the runs are flowing.
India: 71/1 after 9 overs
Swann’s second over begins with a straight shot patted over the bowler for a couple, followed by a dab for a single to Rahane. Can he get to a century, which may not be so difficult given the manner in which he is batting.
Another couple towards point before Rahane gets a single and gives the strike back to Dravid.
And Dravid, as he has been doing all throughout, tries to loft the ball to the football stadium nearby and connects only to square-leg. A single results!
India: 79/1 after 10 overs
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