Dawson needed a longer bowling spell

I understand what he was trying to do - he was keen to unsettle the batsmen by constantly chopping and changing his attack.

That theory worked in the first innings, but bowlers do need to settle into a spell.

They create their own pressure and need time to work a batsman out - to outwit him or frustrate him into playing a rash stroke.

Dawson, for example, completed five spells before lunch consisting of one over, followed by three overs, then one more, then three and, finally one more solitary over.

Combine this with constantly changing ends, and it is little wonder that the young off-spinner did not take a wicket until it was all too late in the afternoon.

The problem this strategy creates is that it makes a bowler strive too hard to produce a "magic" delivery.

If he knows unless he takes a wicket immediately that he will be taken off, he is most unlikely to relax and bowl well.

That aside, Hussain had an excellent match and he and Duncan Fletcher have, again, worked a miracle in creating a positive team spirit.

Pressure is on Ganguly to perform

Things are not so rosy in the Indian camp.

Their captain, Sourav Ganguly, was booed by the crowd as he walked out to bat and criticism of his leadership is a regular feature in the national press.

His form has deserted him, and he casts a lonely, rather dejected figure in the field.

From a distance, it seems that Tendulkar is directing operations and is the man the Indian players approach for ideas and guidance.

England have sensed that Ganguly's position has weakened markedly, and he was deliberately targeted when he came out to bat at the end of the day.

Fortunately for Ganguly, he survived Flintoff's hostile barrage. Had he been dismissed cheaply, his future as captain and his place in the team would have been in jeopardy.

No doubt this will rumble on in Bangalore, the venue for the final test that begins on Wednesday.

Interestingly, Hussain admitted that he believed his inexperienced team could not play any better than they have here.

On the other hand, India - Tendulkar apart - were well below their best but still remain firm favourites to win the series.