Just like yesterday, when the Indian bowling attack was taken to the cleaners by the Sri Lankan batsmen at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo, exactly 20 years ago, the Indians were sent on a leather hunt by Graham Gooch's Englishmen at Lord's.
This is a remarkable coincidence!
Just like yesterday, when the Indian bowling attack was taken to the cleaners by the Sri Lankan batsmen at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo, exactly 20 years ago, the Indians were sent on a leather hunt by Graham Gooch's Englishmen at Lord's.
While Sri Lanka ended the day with 312 for two, England were 359 for two on the opening day of the first Test. The skipper showed the way then - Gooch unbeaten on 194; in Colombo yesterday, captain Sangakkara was not outon 130.
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Sri Lanka could well go on to post an intimidating score just as England did in their 653-run total at the then headquarters of cricket.
Gooch, who went on to score a triple hundred on Day Two of the Test, was sympathetic towards the Indians in 1990. "You have to admit that it is a difficult wicket to bowl on. It requited a lot of hard work because if you are genuinely quick, you can get away with it. If, like the Indian bowlers, you are a medium pacer and the ball isn't moving, you've got a hard day ahead," he said then.
The first day at Lord's was marred by the controversy over Mohammed Azharuddin's decision of inserting the opposition on winning the toss. Several years later, Gooch said: "Normally, you bat first at Lord's because the wicket is at its slowest on the first day. The ball will swing around in the first session of any Test match.
Azhar's call
"It was a brave decision by Azharuddin to bowl first - not one which was met with absolute popularity from coach Bishan Bedi. He told me that he agreed with Azharuddin at the nets that he was going to bat first. But obviously he changed his mind on the walk across the ground."
Gooch was dropped by wicketkeeper Kiran More off seamer Sanjeev Sharma when he was on 36.
Celebrated writer and commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote in his MiD DAY despatch: "It's going to require batting of the very highest standard to stay in the game here onwards because England have ensured that there can be only two results possible: a draw or an England victory." England won. Looks like the same holds true for the current Test.
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