Fast forward with Yadav

On Wednesday,however,the smattering of spectators who turned up at the Eden Gardens witnessed one such incident as Umesh Yadav tore through the defences of Marlon Samuels,leaving his off and middle stumps completely in tatters. And from the reaction around Eden,they seemed to like it.

Till then Samuels and Darren Bravo had looked set to provide a semblance of dignity to the West Indies first innings. Unfortunately for the visitors,Yadav thought this was the opportune moment to announce himself in Test cricket. Samuels had actually looked the most solid of the lot,using the crease quite efficiently.

This time,however,Yadav beat him not only for pace but also with subtle movement. The ball ducked in with the Vidarbha pacer’s natural angle,but moved the other way after pitching,and had enough revs on it to leave the batsman stranded.

Yadav had knocked back Bravo’s off-stump to the floor in the previous over. But at least he had received an assist with the left-hander getting an inside-edge. Samuels,in contrast,had been bowled neck and crop. And along with the woodwork,Yadav had also broken the back of the West Indian innings and probably their spirit,as they collapsed in a heap for 153. Led by Adrian Barath who scored an aggressive 62 and Kirk Edwards,however,they did restore some pride by keeping the red-hot Indians at bay,finishing Day Three at 195/3,following on,but still 283 in arrears.

Latest sensation

At Eden,India discovered their latest pace sensation,and one who as of now,looks like lasting a fair distance. Raw pace is magnetic. It attracts a lot of attention. It can even ensure a shortcut to the big stage,but it doesn’t guarantee longevity. Many before Yadav have discovered that fact,and often the hard way. But in Kolkata,just like he did on debut in Delhi,the youngster has shown signs of possessing additional strings to his bow.

On the second evening,he accounted for Barath with probably the best delivery of the contest in his first over by getting the new-ball to jump off a length,resulting in the diminutive right-hander being squared up. It was with a similar delivery that he accounted for Kraigg Brathwaite in the second innings.

Yadav also has showcased his nous with the older ball. Few bowlers in history have managed to acquire reverse-swing in both directions. That Yadav is managing it at such a nascent stage of his career should indeed be heartening for Indian cricket. And it was this unconventional late movement that got the better of both Samuels and Bravo on Wednesday.

Ishant comes to party

If Yadav starred during the first two sessions of play with Pragyan Ojha obviously playing his part fellow pacer Ishant Sharma ensured that he wasn’t left out by coming into his own in the third. Though used in short spells,he got his rhythm going in the West Indian second innings,kept hitting the right lengths,moved it around and on another day could have ended up with a bagful of wickets. He did end up with two,the crucial wickets of Barath and Edwards who put on an entertaining 93-run stand.

Barath hinted after the day’s play that the 8.30 am start could have played a part in the West Indians’ dramatic collapse at the start of the day. There probably isn’t another explanation for it,considering the nature of the Eden track.

With play scheduled to start at the same time on Thursday,and just seven wickets separating India from a series win,it’s unlikely that the game will drift into the fifth day,especially if Yadav and Sharma are buzzing yet again.