Tame Series-opener

The Lahore Test was a happy hunting ground for the batsmen. Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid would have loved to get past the highest ever Test opening stand but the Nawab of Najafgarh was in too much of a hurry, and the record remained elusive. Weather permitting he would have liked to carry on to challenge Brian Lara's world record of the highest individual score in a Test innings. Apart from the tumbling and threatened records, the match was as dead as a dodo. Pitches need to have some room for the bowlers to perform as well. Only loads of runs cannot lead to a decision. Sourav Ganguly, apart from spectacularly holding on to an otherwise dolly catch, did not have much to do. This would have been the ideal opportunity for him to score heavily and regain some confidence, which would have eased the pressure on him. However, it would be unfair on Captain Dravid to allege that he intentionally did not allow Ganguly to open, lest the latter should get the time to prove himself with willow-wielding. Manufacturing controversies should be stopped, even at the risk of alienating gossip-mongers.