India in England: Pankaj Singh Promises to Make Impact on Debut
Undeterred by missed chances on his Test debut for India, seamer Pankaj Singh promised to come back strongly on the second day, after England dominated the first, scoring 247/2 in Southampton.
India pacer Pankaj Singh was left with mixed feelings after his first day as a Test cricketer, as England piled on a dominating 247/2 at the Rose Bowl on Sunday. (Day 1 Highlights | Scorecard)
The Rajasthan seamer, who got his maiden Test cap from former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, had picked up 300 first-class wickets and came close to snaring his first Test victim, had it not been for a poor drop by Ravindra Jadeja at third slip.
England skipper Alastair Cook, under pressure for a sustained run of poor form and the Lord's defeat, pressed at a length delivery and edged Singh in his third over to the slip cordon, where Jadeja made a mess of it. Later in the day, Singh came close to striking again but a confident lbw shout against Ian Bell was turned down.
However, the 29-year-old medium-pacer, who had played his only ODI four years back in Zimbabwe, impressed with his pace and skills on a batting-friendly pitch. Singh, himself, obviously, would have been happier with a wicket or two.
"After 10 years, I got to fulfill my dream. I would have been happier for the team and myself if I had got some wickets, but as I said, playing Test cricket for my India was my dream. Hopefully, I will come back and do well on the second day." (MS Dhoni Reprimanded for Ravindra Jadeja Protest)
Singh was included at the last moment in place of Lord's hero Ishant Sharma, who had injured himself. The debutant toiled away manfully even as Cook (95) and Gary Ballance (104 not out) added 158 runs for the second wicket. The surface had nothing in it for the bowlers and it could become a Trent Bridge like nightmare for bowlers from either side.
Singh had of course watched from the sidelines as his colleagues sweated it out in the first Test, but that did not deter him from promising a better performance come Monday.
"I tried my best to get wickets but things did not happen. There was no movement, no help from the wicket. Hopefully, on Monday, I will get some wickets," Singh said at the end of Day 1 in Southampton.
With England in the driver's seat, India skipper MS Dhoni would want his bowlers to strike early tomorrow (Monday) and Singh reiterated the need to do just that.
"I will try my best in this match. Monday will be important for us and we have to come back fresh," Singh said.