17 Nov 2012

England struggle against Indian spinners

10:29 am on 17 November 2012

A Cheteshwar Pujara double hundred and three late wickets put India in complete control at the end of day two of the first cricket Test against England in Ahmedabad.

After India declared on 521 for 8, England lost debutant Nick Compton, night-watchman James Anderson and Jonathan Trott to close on 41-3.

Pujara earlier made an unbeaten 206, with Yuvraj Singh adding 74.

Graeme Swann, England's only specialist slow bowler, claimed 5 for 144 but England's quicks stuggled to make any impact on a slow, low pitch and selectors may regret the decision to leave Monty Panesar out of the side.

India opened the bowling with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who combined with Pragyan Ojha to inflict late damage on the tourists.

When Ashwin also had Trott taken off bat and pad, England had lost three wickets for four runs in 13 balls, once again wilting in the face of quality spin bowling on the subcontinent.