India v England: Graeme Swann wants 'quick wickets' on day two

  • Published
Media caption,

India v England: Graeme Swann enjoys opening exchanges

Graeme Swann warned his England team-mates that "we need to keep India below 450" after the hosts made 323-4 on day one of the first Test in Ahmedabad.

Virender Sehwag smashed 117 and Cheteshwar Pujara an unbeaten 98 as Swann (4-85) took all four wickets.

"We will need quick wickets in the morning," said off-spinner Swann.

"We will be batting last on this [pitch] - that's what happens when you lose the toss. They have two very good spinners so we will have to bowl well."

Opener Sehwag's 117-ball innings made him the the subject of England's lunchtime team talk.

"It was a tough first session, and Sehwag was superb for the first two hours, but after that we bounced back well," said Swann.

"We said that we knew how he [Sehwag] can bat, but that we couldn't let the game drift away.

"I thought we did that by bowling straighter and with more discipline, and I thought we won that [afternoon] session."

In dismissing Sehwag, Swann broke Jim Laker's record of 193 Test wickets to become England's most successful off-spinner.

"It is a proud moment," said the 33-year-old. "I'm always saying I'm not one for stats. But when people told me I was near to Jim Laker, I was genuinely excited.

"When you're growing up, famous names from the game, you never even dream of emulating them - let alone going past their record."

Sehwag's 23rd Test ton, made off just 90 deliveries, was his first for two years but his seventh in the longest form of the game to come at better than a run a ball.

"This one was due," said Sehwag. "I'm very pleased to have scored one after a long time and at the right time, in the first innings of the first Test."

Despite India's strong position, Sehwag warned that the lifeless nature of the pitch will make it hard for the hosts to take 20 England wickets.

"If you try to block, it's difficult to get out," he said. "The wicket is very slow. It's turning, but not sharply."

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.

Listen to Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of each day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.

Around the BBC

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.