India v England: Graeme Swann eyes lead in second Test

Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann says England must capitalise on their day-two performance and build a first-innings lead over India in the second Test in Mumbai.

Captain Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen took the tourists to 178-2 after India were bowled out for 327.

"The pitch will get trickier to bat on as the game wears on," off-spinner Swann told BBC Sport.

"We're 150 behind with eight wickets in hand. We need to use those wickets and pull out as big a lead as possible."

England lost Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott in quick succession before Cook and Pietersen shared an unbroken stand of 110 to leave the visitors trailing by 149.

Cook was unbeaten on 87, while Pietersen made 62 not out, his first half-century since being recalled. Both are one hundred away from an England record 22 in Tests.

"We've played exceptionally well," added Swann. "Cookie and Kevin batted magnificently to put us in a pretty good position.

"Kevin showed what a class player he is. It was great to see him playing so positive and I'm sure he'll be keen to dig in on day three.

"Cookie has been in exceptional form in this series so far. The longer he bats tomorrow, the better position we will get in as a team."

Swann took three wickets on the second morning to finish with figures of 4-70.

When he trapped Harbhajan Singh lbw - his first victim of the day - he became the 14th bowler to take 200 Test wickets for England - and only the second spinner after Derek Underwood.

"To get three wickets today is very pleasing and reach the 200 mark is a feather in my cap," said Swann. "It's always nice to pass milestones."z

Swann also had Cheteshwar Pujara stumped for 135, the first time the India number three had been dismissed in the series after scoring 382 runs off 790 balls across two Tests.

"Consistency is the most important part of being a batsman and I'm happy that I'm able to perform consistently," said Pujara.

"I've done the same in the domestic format and I'm happy that I'm able to do the same in international cricket."

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barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.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 the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.