Hussain & White shine in drawn tie

By Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI, NOV.19. England's learning process continued on the second day of the two-day tour opener against the Mumbai spinners, skipper Nasser Hussain getting first-hand experience of the hurdles ahead, retiring after scoring a patchy 70 off 125 balls as the visitors reached 370-5 in the allotted 90 overs, three short of Mumbai Cricket Association President's XI's 373-5 in the first innings. The two-day game is deemed to be a draw, with only the over-specific first innings completed by both teams.

England's approach to the match as a training exercise was evident when Hussain and partner Graham Thorpe opted to retire at tea on Monday, the second day, with the team score 232- 3. Mark Ramprakash and Craig White used the opportunity to gain batting practice, MCA President's XI allowing Vinod Kambli to turn his arm over, since a result in two days was never on the cards.

The spin class for the visiting Englishmen began in the ninth over of the morning at the Wankhede stadium, left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni introduced into the attack. off-spinner Ramesh Powar given the ball in the 15th over by skipper Mhambrey. Both Mumbai spinners got into their stride immediately, commanding respect from the English openers.

Trescothick, the Somerset all-rounder with hundreds against Sri Lanka and Pakistan against his name, was the first wicket to fall , top-edging an attempted sweep off Powar into Kambli's hands at short mid-wicket. Kulkarni then sent back Vaughan, a classic spin dismissal, beating the batsman in forward defensive mode, the ball taking the edge into wicket-keeper's Abhijit Shetye's gloves.

Leg-spinner Bahutule, the other ex-India spinner in the side besides Kulkarni, had the misfortune of having three catches dropped off his bowling. Hussain floored by Kulkarni and Muzumdar, then Kulkarni putting down a chance offered by Thorpe. Dropped catches is a luxury no side can afford and it was no surprise when the English batsmen counter-attack.

Hussain, dropped again at 40 when Thakkar failed to react in time at forward short-leg off Powar, went after the bowling, starting with a stepped out six over long-on against Kulkarni. His second six, hitting Powar into the stands behind long-on, helped him cross the 50-mark in his first knock on Indian soil.

Opener Tresothick too had settled down by then, starting with a hooked six over medium-pacer Avishkar Salvi, reached his half- century (65 balls) with a stunning lofted straight-drive into the sightscreen of Kulkarni. He hit another six, besides six boundaries before an attempted sweep against Powar proved costly.

England skipper Hussain and Thorpe retired at tea, giving the new pair of Ramprakash (58 not out, 83 balls, four fours) and White (79 not out, 72 balls, 7 fours, five sixes) the luxury of batting at leisure till play was called off after the 90 over. Both middle-order batsmen looked at ease against the Mumbai spinners, including a five-over spell by Kambli.

The assault by Ramprakash and White took some sheen of Mumbai's attack, Kulkarni coming in for punishment and Kambli's five overs costing 28 runs. Both these frontline English batsmen will admit that no marks can be expected when there is nothing at stake, no pressure to perform nor any objective in sight expect getting a feel of Indian conditions.

The tourists leave for a three-day game at Hyderabad against Board President's XI, starting on Nov. 22.

The scores:

MCA President's XI- 1st innings: 373 for 5

England-1st innings: M.Butcher (run out) 33, M.Trescothick c V.Kambli b R.Powar 60, M.Vaughan c A.Shetye b N.Kulkarni 2, N.Hussain (retd.) 70, G.Thorpe (retd.) 45, M.Ramprakash 58 (n.o) , C.White 79 (n.o.). Extras 23 (b-4, lb-2, nb-17). Total 370 for 5 (90 overs).

Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-91, 3-121, 4- 232, 5-232.

Bombay bowling: P.Mhambrey 8-0-20-0, A.Salvi 11-0-55-0, N.Kulkarni 28-3-138-1, R.Powar 28-5-76-1, S.Bahutule 10-1-47-0, V.Kambli 5-0-28-0.

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