If Indian pacers cut a sorry figure on day one of the first cricket Test against
England, it was due to butterflies in their stomach, according to team's
Cricket Manager Chandu Borde.
"The boys over-pitched a bit and also erred in length and direction,"
said Borde.
"But it happens. There are players who are playing for
the first time at Lord's, so they had butterflies in the stomach," he said
after yesterday's proceedings.
After Michael Vaughan won the toss and decided to bat
first, the Indian pace trio of Zaheer Khan, RP Singh and S Sreesanth
failed to capitalise on the early movements offered by the Lord's track as England
openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook scored at a brisk pace.
Sourav Ganguly earned the breakthrough when he trapped
Cook and among the pacers, only RP Singh tasted success on the opening day when
he had Vaughan caught behind, not before the host captain had played a sedate
knock of 79.
Borde also attributed their loss of focus, especially in the pre-lunch session,
to anxiety.
"Lord's is a such a wonderful place to play cricket, so
players do get a bit overawed. It's always there at the back of their minds.
As a player, I also got excited when I played here."
|