Ahmedabad, November 16: Off-spinner Graeme Swann was England’s hero on the first day of the first Test against India, grabbing four wickets to apply some brake on the free-scoring Indians.
Speaking to the media at the end of the first day, Swann paid handsome compliments to Virender Sehwag for playing a cracker of an innings that made things tough for England, but expressed satisfaction that they have managed to pull things back with a couple of late wickets. Excerpts:
On Sehwag: From the first few overs we realised we were in for the long haul over here. We realised the ball was not going to swing much here but we didn’t expect the pitch to be that low and slow. India have some very destructive players and the way Viru batted he really took the game away from us in the first couple of hours so it was very important to pull it back.
You have to hand it to Viru the way he played at the start. We know he can be destructive, and he’s done it against us before. I’ve been reading in the paper that he hasn’t got a century for a couple of years and he’s been questioned by the local press … Good on him for banishing those doubters.
On his four-wicket effort: Flying home last week, I was a bit concerned that I would not have good rhythm but happily for me I was bowling well beforehand. In the week in Mumbai I was bowling well in the nets, and it’s always a relief when the ball is coming out as you want it to.
On going past Jim Laker’s record of 193 wickets: It is a proud moment. I am not a stats man but when people told me I was near Jim Laker I was genuinely excited. When you’re growing up these are the famous names of the game, you don’t even dream of emulating them, let alone going past them.
On the sharp turning ball to dismiss Virat Kohli: I was fortunate that the ball was changed after the quarter seam exploded on the soft ball. The replacement was a touch harder.
No ball spun for three or four overs and then one just hit a pebble and turned square. It’s always my favourite way to get a batsman out, bowled through the gate, especially a player as good as Kohli.
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