Five Talking Points From An Enthralling Day 2

Doppelganger Of Cook's 1st Innings Dismissal

If one observes Cook's dismissals in both the innings, it would be quite a conundrum to believe that they were two separate wickets: to the naked eye, it would seem more like a replay rather than Ashwin emulating himself and bowling yet another of those dreamlike deliveries to get rid off England's greatest batsman twice in two days. That, too, in exactly the same manner. A beautifully, yet irritatingly flighted delivery that pitches on middle and leg and takes the slightest of turns to squeeze past Cook's forward-prod and kiss the top of off. Does it get any better? Especially the fact that a ball described this was bowled in just the fourth over of the innings with a brand-new, cherry-like Duke ball that is more prone to seam-bowling than extracting spin out of a Day 2 pitch.

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day Two

With five or so overs remaining in the day and two left-handers on the scene, Kohli decided to play the gamble and bring on his premier spinner. In what proved to be the last over in a fascinating Cricket day, Ashwin pulled out yet another crackerjack to leave one of the greats of the game, dumbfounded. It was the dip that did him again. With extra reps on the new cherry, Ashwin lobbed it around his leg stump and drew him forward. The flight was cleverly thrown above Cook's eye line. Subsequently, Cook was found napping at the crease. He half-halfheartedly strode forward but it was no way near a fully-fledged stride. The ball gripped from the surface, passed his bat by a country mile and the haunting sound of timber crashing went off in the background. And there went Kohli, screaming his heart out and ensuring his presence was felt.

The pitch is already gripping and the Poms are already shuddering. India can sniff a victory here.