India v England

Toss: India. Test debut: India - Yajurvindra Singh

Tables were turned in this Test because this time India did not fritter away the advantage of batting first.

The pitch, from the second day onwards, deteriorated rapidly. Other contributory factors were the return to form of Chandrasekhar and more consistent catching close to the wicket. Yajuvendra Singh, playing in his first Test, took seven catches at short leg, thus equalling the record of Victor Richardson.

The pitch, closely shaved, was even-tempered on the first day and India really should have reached a larger total. The top score in their 253 was 63 by the left-handed Surinder Amarnath, playing his first Test in the series. His effort, however, would have been of little advantage had Kirmani, at number seven, not made 52. Willis, although he received no help from the pitch, took six wickets in the innings, four of them in as many overs with the second new ball.

In reply, England were all out for 195. The Indian spinners had already extracted a fair bit of spin from the pitch. Although wickets fell steadily, Amiss batted long enough to make 82, but he was lucky to survive a chance to gully, off Bedi, when only three. Further resistance came from Lever. Chandrasekhar took six for 76.

Gavaskar played an innings of great technical skill that put the India second innings on a sound footing, but they slipped to 124 for five before Viswanath, who was forced to bat as low as number seven because of injury, made a masterly 79 not out.

India declared at tea on the fourth day with an overall lead of 317. Underwood this time was in the forefront of the England attack, taking four for 76.

At the end of the fourth day, England were 34 for four, the wickets having gone down before the total was in double figures. And it took a bit of luck for Greig and Tolchard to survive this holocaust. The collapse set in again on the last day and England declined to 61 for six before Knott played a magnificent, aggressive innings of 81 not out.

Although Old and Lever each stayed with him for half an hour, the innings had been damaged too badly for England to be able to extend India. Bedi did most of the damage, taking six for 71. But for Knott's spectacular onslaught, his figures would have been even more striking.