England off-spinner Graeme Swann said that England would have been happier with five or six wickets by stumps and Indian opener Virender Sehwag took the game away with his blistering run-a-ball 117, says a report in Business Standard.
“They are in a very strong position. The first session they undoubtedly won. Arguably the other two were even. Having lost the toss and bowled first on that pitch we'd have liked five or six wickets but we'll take four. If we had five or six it would have been an exceptional day for us and would have knocked 60 runs off the total,” he said.
On Sehwag’s exceptional innings, Swann said, “"You have to hand it to Viru the way he played at the start. The way Viru batted he really took the game away from us in the first couple of hours so it was very important to pull it back. We know he can be destructive, he's done it against us before.”
“I've been reading in the paper that he hasn't got a century for a couple of years and he's been questioned by the local press ... Good on him for banishing those doubters,” he added.
Meanwhile, The Sun reports that Graeme Swann overtook Jim Laker as England’s greatest off-spinner. His four wickets on day one of the First Test against India here in Ahmedabad took him to 196 — and clear of Laker’s figure of 193 wickets.
“It was a proud moment to overtake Jim Laker. I’m always saying I’m not one for stats but, when people told me I was near him, I was genuinely excited. You never dream of going past their records. I’m honoured,” Swann said on his achievement.
On getting Sachin’s wicket, he said, “It’s a huge thrill dismissing Sachin. The noise erupts when he walks out to bat. He hadn’t even left the changing room and you knew who was coming in. It was vital to get him early because he is the greatest player still playing the game.”