Michael Atherton says India got the better of England on day one, thanks to Cheteshwar Pujara
Friday 23 November 2012 12:59, UK
Image:Pujara: star of the show on day one
Michael Atherton says England's batsmen must endeavour to match the performance of Cheteshwar Pujara after he ensured India held the advantage after day one in Mumbai.
England are yet to win a Test match when Panesar has been selected alongside Graeme Swann, but Atherton says the selectors were correct to bring in a second quality spinner.
And while he felt he was slow to get into his stride, his hailed his dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar as a "perfect moment".
He said: "He perhaps bowled not as well as he could at the start, but got increasingly better and it was a moment of brilliance to get rid of Sachin Tendulkar. He did pretty well to get four wickets.
"The fact that within his first eight overs he picked up two wickets - which is more than England's seamers had throughout the whole of the match in Ahmedabad put that selection into context.
"It's a pitch where you need two spinners. India have upped the ante and gone with three, leaving Umesh Yadav out and bringing in Harbhajan Singh, a man who's got over 400 Test wickets bowling spin.
"India's three spinners suggests it's a pitch where you need at least two. England have got two-and-a-half with Samit Patel and they needed Monty Panesar today, particularly with Stuart Broad just a bit below his best as well."
The second Test between India and England continues from 3.55am, Saturday, Sky Sports 1 HD
