Jaffer’s resilience

In recent times, India have faltered so often in the second innings of a Test match that most international teams probably calculate that they need only two wickets before the Indian batting lineup folds, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. Sehwag has a pretty spotty record in the second innings, so it really is only a matter of one wicket. Pakistan has proven it twice in Bangalore and Karachi. England had humiliated India in Mumbai, by wrapping up all 10 wickets for a meager 100 runs. The only time India did not crumble, and even attempted an audacious chase was in Nagpur this March when a classy not so young opener on his fourth comeback to the Indian team played out the first two sessions on the final day for his first Test hundred. Today at the Antigua Recreation Ground, he made his second hundred, and even though India isn’t out of the woods yet, Wasim Jaffer has shown that he has the gumption to play significant innings at the top of the order to pull his team out of the fire. He is an opener with steel, something India has been lacking for a long time. It wasn’t as fluent as his maiden century, in fact he had his moments of luck here, but this innings could prove to be the more significant one, it might yet setup a remarkable Indian victory.

On a track with some Caribbean rum rolled into it by the groundsman the Indian batting line up flattered to deceive with 6 batsmen getting starts before throwing it away. Chris Gayle with some enterprising batting launched into the three young Indian fast bowlers and hit both Sreesanth and debutant VRV Singh out of the attack. If not for the calmer heads of Kumble and a freshly tonsured Sehwag with two wickets apiece, India would have been completely out of the game. Still after two days where India was outplayed in all departments of the game, most people were polishing up their fire Chappell-recall Sourav stories. On the third day, India clawed its way back into the Test, beginning with the unflappable Munaf Patel prising out an early wicket, before the strapping VRV hustled and bustled and finally hit the right line to bounce out 2 West Indian tailenders. Kumble quickly claimed the last wicket to limit the Windies lead to 130.

Sehwag began India's second innings in typical fashion with a sliced six over thirdman off Fidel Edwards. Edwards changed his line and aimed fast short balls into Sehwag’s ribs. Sehwag poked and prodded and would probably have perished if Edwards hadn’t pulled up lame clutching his hamstring. With Edwards out of the attack, Sehwag survived and thrived for a while before the nagging Corey Colleymore snapped him up for the second time in the match. VVS Laxman caressed his way to a cameo 31 before he slogged a googly from Dave Mohammed to mid on. All this while, Jaffer played a patient knock having nothing to do with a majority of the deliveries outside his offstump, but he did work a few pleasing shots off his legs, and once stood up tall to square drive a short ball to the point boundary. As his confidence grew, he even pulled out the straight drive and cover drives to Mohammad and Bravo. He didn’t lose his patience as he approached the landmark, and brought up his hundred with an elegant square drive off the strangely unthreatening Ian Bradshaw. Even before he could raise his bat to acknowledge the dressing room, he got a warm embrace from his grateful captain, Rahul Dravid, who was stoically keeping one end up. India finished the day with 8 wickets remaining and will be looking to push their lead from 85 to about 300.

It is not going to be easy, but the momentum has shifted India’s way and it will be Brian Lara’s turn to inspire his team to fight back, after all they have successfully chased more than 400 against Australia at the very same ground.