So it's a good start for India to have consolidated their grip on the first of the three-Test series and put Pakistan on the defensive and restricted to a moderate total of 312 all out in the first innings. After winning the toss, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly invited Pakistan to bat first on the seamers-friendly green top wicket. The decision paid off as Pakistan suffered early losses for a paltry 30 for two.
First, it was opener Salman Butt, who was sent back to the pavilion by young medium pacer Irfan Pathan for six, followed by vice-captain Younus Khan trapped leg before by pacer Zaheer Khan for nine and then experienced Yousuf Youhana caught behind by keeper Dinesh Karthik while trying an away-going delivery from Irfan Pathan.
Pakistan's top order batting, as usual, crumbled to the host bowlers' accurate and teasing line and length and the visitors three top batsmen were seen resting in the dressing room at the score of 89 for three.
However, Taufiq Umar, who scored a valuable 44 runs in partnership with Salman Butt, Younus Khan, Yousuf Youhana and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, was bowled by pacer Laxmipathy Balaji when Pakistan were tottering at 91.
What a valuable training was imparted by British coach Bob Woolmer, who was hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for 85,000-pound-a-year. Is it not a sheer waste of the national wealth. Yes it is, as India seemed heading for the fourth consecutive win against arch-rivals, who faced a whitewash in the three-Test home series.
WOOLMER NEEDS A CHECK: Is there anyone in the PCB hierarchy to check the extra-activities of this costly British coach, who instead of concentrating on his main job of coaching, is reportedly busy, writing for the Indian newspapers.
Is the PCB code of conduct not applicable to the foreign coach, who misguided his readers by disclosing that during the 1990 Pakistan tour of India, Shahid Afridi hammered a century at Mohali.
What an informative disclosure. The statisticians should correct their records and replace Chennai, where Afraid scored a century, with a style that had an adventure and verwe.
However, it is up to the PCB disciplinarians to decide if the officials, including coach, are immune to the code of conduct.
PATHETIC START: Now turning to the match, there is no doubt that India were heading for a big victory, possibly by an innings, as at the time of writing this piece, the hosts had levelled the score and were playing at 335 for three, consolidating their grip on the match.
Despite a pathetic start by Pakistan, it was treat to watch young Asim Kamal, who along with skipper Inzamam, batted with confidence and ease and scored a swashbuckling 91 before he fell to experienced spinner Anil Kumble.
After dismissals of top order batsmen, skipper Inzamam, along with opener Taufiq Umar, played responsibly and raised the score to 156 for the fifth wicket partnership.
Taufiq Umar, who was bowled by pacer Laxmipathy Balaji for 44, made room for left-handed Asim Kamal to rescue Pakistan, who were tottering at 156 for five.
Asim Kamal, smashing 14 boundaries in his fifth half-century in seven Tests, disappointed his captain and rallied his team with two useful stands, adding 52 for the fifth wicket with Inzamam and 48 for the seventh wicket with Kamran Akmal (15).
He applied himself well on a grassy pitch, which had both pace and movement, and kept Indian pace attack at bay with his knock of 91.
Asim Kamal, who scored 99 on his Test debut against South Africa at Lahore two years ago, missed out on a century again when he was bowled by seamer Laxmipathi Balaji.
His performance in the Pakistan's first innings is an eye-opener for the national selectors, who discarded him for the one-dayers, and they should realise that young Asim Kamal, like Saeed Anwar, also a Test discard, deserved to be selected for one-dayers too.
It is heartening to note that Inzamam has regained form. In his fluent 37th half-century, Inzamam gave the required support to the young left-handed batsman before he was trapped leg-before by Anil Kumble.
However, at the close of the day, Pakistan were all out for 312 in the first innings.
OLD HABITS: The first day's play of the first Test at Mohali indicates that our batsmen are still sticking to their old habits of playing irresponsible shot, especially on a seam-friendly wicket.
Inzamam has also admitted that Pakistan are still 20-30 percent below playing standard, but still If Inzamam wants to shatter the Indians dream for a repeat whitewash, he should ensure a dramatic reversal of form of his players in all departments of the game.
He along with coach Woolmer should sit together to chalk out a game plan and strategy for the challenges ahead.
Earlier, Inzamam claimed that Pakistan had an edge over India, who will be under pressure from their own crowd.
True, the Indians will be playing under pressure, but the fact is that after beating Pakistan, for the first time in Pakistan, they have the psychological edge over the visitors.
WOOLMER'S PERFORMANCE: Instead of concentrating on correcting batsmen's habit of playing away-going balls on and off stump, improving running between the wickets, restricting the bowlers to avoid no-balls and wide balls and asking them to maintain line and length, Woolmer creating problems for the PCB by making silly statements.
He should look to flaws of younger openers Salam Butt and Taufiq Umar, who have the potentials to provide a solid base to the middle order batting, comprising Yousuf Youhana, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younus Khan and under-utilised Asim Kamal.
Though the urge is there and talent is in abundance, Woolmer has not provided the required training to the young Pakistan team.
In the first Test against India, Pakistan's weaknesses in batting and bowling are thoroughly exposed.
One fails to understand why the national selectors have chosen pacer Mohammad Khalil, spinners Arshad Khan and utility player Shahid Afridi, as Pakistan were in dire need of at Shahid Afridi to check India's journey to a mammoth score.