First match,about turn

That India had put up a score of 300/7 on a rather two-paced,fickle-natured wicket — thanks to MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina — did ensure that England were kept under the pump throughout. But England coach Andy Flower could definitely not have fathomed the inept fashion in which their batsmen succumbed to India’s spin duo,eventually proving that they were highly susceptible against their everlasting nemesis.

It wasn’t a big surprise that R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja spun a web around the visitors at Uppal,it was the incompetent manner in which Cook & Co tried breaking the shackles that finally led to them collapsing for just 174,handing India their first win at Hyderabad. Incidentally,this was also Dhoni & Co’s first international win against England for close to three years — since the dramatic Test win at Chennai in 2008.

England’s inquisition against spin in fact began on a promising note in the second innings,as captain Cook stepped down the wicket to drive Ashwin for four past mid-off in his first over. And though there weren’t many boundaries on offer from thereon,Cook and Jonathan Trott seemed to be steadying the ship by rotating the strike competently. They swept well,used their feet and even employed the late-cut to good effect.

Though the required rate was rising,England now faced their first major test against spin — being patient and waiting on the loose delivery. Their endurance only lasted for four overs over all from Ashwin and Jadeja. A well-set Cook,batting on 60,suddenly decided to lift the left-arm spinner over mid-wicket,picked the wrong ball and the wrong area,as Vinay Kumar completed an easy catch.

Seeing their captain flounder at this premature hurdle only seemed to set the cat amongst the pigeons. The usually laborious and persistent Trott then made the second biggest mistake against spin — slogging versus turn on a slow wicket. Trott never got into position to play the uncharacteristic swipe (his head fell away too easily) and Jadeja’s delivery sneaked under his bat to hit leg-stump. The rout had been set in motion.

Rookie errors

Ravi Bopara and Jonathan Bairstow then made the rookie error of trying to force the issue across the line,rather than wait for the ball like Raina and Dhoni had earlier in the day against Graeme Swann and Samit Patel. Both ended up offering return catches,a manner of dismissal which was common even during the series in England. While using their feet against spin was one of the most discussed pre-series strategies in the English camp,Tim Bresnan paid dearly for stepping out of his crease rather aimlessly — and a little too early.

By now,Ashwin and Jadeja were breathing fire. And by the time England took their batting powerplay,they were already seven down and staring down the barrel.

Earlier in the day,it was the batting powerplay that turned India’s fortunes around. The pre-T20 era adage was to try and double the score from the 30th over onwards. On Friday,India doubled their score in the last 15 overs,scoring a staggering 150 runs in the last 14 overs.

England’s eventual collapse will sit more as a reality check than an eye-opener,as Flower & Co. now set upon their road to recovery and a quick-fix for their tribulations against spin.