England stung by India's fightback

Turning up late is better than not appearing at all. But that is the only consolation India can take after spending nearly two days in the field while England amassed the formidable total of 515. And even though yesterday was India's – they took 8 for 179 – it is still England who hold all the cards in this winner-takes-all Test.

However, the manner in which these two sides have gone about their business during this critical fourth Test match fully explains why both lie in mid-table in the International Cricket Council Test Championship. With India on 66 for 1 and still requiring another 250 runs to avoid the follow-on, England are firmly in control, but neither side have shown the belief, consistency or killer instinct required to replace Australia at the top of the table.

To pass 500 for the fifth time this summer would have delighted the England captain, Nasser Hussain, but the way his middle and lower order allowed India to get back into this game will have disappointed him. Following Michael Vaughan's wonderful effort and a dreadful display by the tourists on the first day India were there for the taking. While some credit must go to Sourav Ganguly's side for fighting back, Hussain will be aware that England should by now be in a position where only they could win this game.

India have the wily spin of Harbhajan Singh to thank for stopping Hussain's side from posting an unconquerable total. Donning a patka, Singh was nicknamed "the Turbanator" following his exploits against Australia in 2001. In two famous games, the first of which ended Australia's run of 16 successive Test match victories, the off-spinner took 28 wickets. Yesterday England's supporters witnessed at first hand how, as he led the weary Indian side off the field with figures of 5 for 114 to his name.

Skipping to the wicket with arms twirling, there is an energy about the 22-year-old. No matter the state of the game, there is a carefree feel to his cricket. Here is not a gnarled old pro who has been through the mill, but a free spirit who relishes the challenge, even if the stick is flying around.

Like Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan has devised another ball that comes out of the top of his hand and spins the other way to a conventional off-break. The "doosra", as he calls it, makes the Sikh a far greater threat than a spin bowler who turns the ball only one way because it allows him to attack both edges of the bat.

This is something England's batsmen were only too aware of as they trooped back to the pavilion shaking their heads having been deceived by his subtle changes of pace and spin. The first to fall to Harbhajan yesterday was Alec Stewart. Batting in a remarkably subdued manner at his home ground, England's stalwart hung his bat out at one, having seen a couple of balls turn sharply into him, only to see it slide off his outside edge and into the safe hands of Ajay Ratra behind the stumps.

The next victim was Alex Tudor, who fell in a similar style, but this time the catch went to Rahul Dravid at first slip. In fact, the only batsman to come to terms with him was Dominic Cork, who justified his selection at No 7 by scoring his third Test match fifty. Playing in typically annoying fashion for the opposition, he scampered about and upset the rhythm of the Indian bowlers. Cork also punished anything loose and an excellent day for the Derbyshire all-rounder was made complete by the announcement that he has been called into England's ICC Champions Trophy squad.

Cork admitted he probably should not have gestured to the media after completing his half-century. He held up seven digits, claiming it was a response to suggestions he should not be batting at No 7. "I should have just got on with the job," Cork said.

Nobody would have expected England to struggle after the second ball of the day, which was sent crashing through extra cover for four by Vaughan. On 182 not out overnight, he showed little sign of fatigue after six hours at the crease on the first day, and a maiden double century beckoned as he effortlessly moved to 195.

At Trent Bridge he perished playing an expansive drive just three runs short of 200. Yesterday, when five away, he fell as the ball flicked the outside edge of his defensive stroke and went safely into the wicketkeeper's gloves. Disappointment rather than disagreement kept Vaughan at the crease longer than he should but on his walk back to the dressing-room he rightly received his third standing ovation in 24 hours.

His departure literally stung the Indians into action – their captain, Ganguly, had to leave the field after being stung on the backside by a wasp – as England threatened to throw away the good work of the first day.

Eighteen runs later, after an unconvincing innings of 26, John Crawley fell to the naggingly accurate away swing of Sanjay Bangar. Bowling from the Pavilion End, the medium-pacer pegged back England's batsmen and deserved the couple of wickets he took in an eight-over spell that cost eight runs.

Crawley would have been aware of the importance of this innings after a poor showing at Headingley and with the announcement of an Ashes squad only hours away he seemed to go in his shell before missing a straight ball from Bangar. His second victim was Hussain. Having a wild drive at a wideish ball, the England captain sliced a catch to second slip where Vangipurappu Laxman juggled but caught a sharp chance.

Hussain was fuming as he walked off the field and other than Cork's fifty the only thing to have brought a smile to his face would have been the late dismissal of Virender Sehwag.

OVAL SCOREBOARD

Second day; England won toss

ENGLAND ­ First Innings

(Overnight: 336 for 2)

M P Vaughan c Ratra b Khan 195

380 min, 279 balls, 29 fours

J P Crawley lbw b Bangar 26

126 min, 87 balls, 4 fours

*N Hussain c Laxman b Bangar 10

66 min, 43 balls, 1 four

ÝA J Stewart c Ratra b Harbhajan Singh 23

104 min, 76 balls, 2 fours

D G Cork lbw b Harbhajan Singh 52

142 min, 112 balls, 8 fours

A J Tudor c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 2

18 min, 11 balls

A F Giles c Dravid b Kumble 31

91 min, 72 balls, 3 fours

A R Caddick not out 14

50 min, 38 balls, 1 four

M J Hoggard lbw b Harbhajan Singh 0

3 min, 1 ball

Extras (b12 lb31 w1 nb7) 51

Total (641 min, 155.4 overs) 515

Fall (cont): 3-349 (Vaughan), 4-367 (Crawley), 5-372 (Hussain), 6-434 (Stewart), 7-446 (Tudor), 8-477 (Cork), 9-514 (Giles).

Bowling: Khan 28-4-83-2 (nb5, w1) (4-0-17-0, 4-0-13-1, 3-0-8-0, 4-1-11-0, 7-1-10-1, 5-2-15-0, 1-0-9-0); Agarkar 24-4-111-0 (5-0-28-0, 5-0-24-0, 2-0-6-0, 3-1-14-0, 4-1-22-0, 1-1-0-0, 2-1-10-0, 2-0-7-0); Bangar 24-8-48-2 (5-0-15-0, 6-2-13-0, 1-0-1-0, 1-0-2-0, 1-1-0-0, 8-4-8-2, 2-1-9-0); Harbhajan Singh 38.4-6-115-5 (4-0-17-0, 2-0-2-0, 11-2-34-0, 5-1-23-1, 1-0-3-0, 15-3-35-3, 0.4-0-1-1); Kumble 35-11-105-1 (5-3-12-0, 7-2-18-0, 3-1-15-0, 3-0-23-0, 2-1-12-0, 2-1-5-0, 1-1-0-0, 11-2-16-0, 1-0-4-1); Ganguly 4-1-6-0 (nb1) (1-0-1-0, 1-0-3-0, 2-1-2-0); Tendulkar 2-0-4-0 (1-0-3-0 1-0,-1-0).

Progress: Second day: 350: 383 min, 93.4 overs. Lunch: 393-5 (Stewart 8, Cork 8) 116 overs. 400: 497 min, 118.2 overs. 450: 552 min, 130 overs. Tea: 483-8 (Giles 14, Caddick 1) 148 overs. 500: 627 min, 153 overs. Innings closed: 4.34pm.

Vaughan 50: 133 min, 92 balls, 8 fours. 100: 252 min, 195 balls, 13 fours. 150: 307 min, 230 balls, 21 fours.

Cork 50: 134 min, 99 balls, 8 fours.

INDIA ­ First Innings

S B Bangar not out 17

94 min, 70 balls, 2 fours

V Sehwag c Cork b Caddick 12

17 min, 9 balls, 2 fours

R Dravid not out 31

76 min, 57 balls, 6 fours

Extras (lb1 nb5) 6

Total (for 1, 94 min, 22 overs) 66

Fall: 1-18 (Sehwag).

To bat: S R Tendulkar, *S C Ganguly, V V S Laxman, A B Agarkar, ÝA Ratra, A Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan.

Bowling: Hoggard 6-1-22-0 (nb4) (3-0-15-0, 3-1-7-0); Caddick 6-2-17-1 (2-0-13-1, 4-2-4-0); Giles 3-0-7-0 (1-0-1-0, 2-0-6-0); Tudor 4-2-14-0 (nb1); Cork 2-1-4-0; Vaughan 1-0-1-0 (one spell each).

Progress: 50: 70 min, 15.4 overs.

Umpires: E A R de Silva (Sri Lanka) and D L Orchard (SA).

TV replay umpire: N A Mallender

Match referee: C H Lloyd.