England coach Peter Moores says his bowlers must go in search of early wickets after they were made to toil by India on day one of the second Test.

Virender Sehwag fell in the second over but Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid guided the hosts to 179-1 in Mohali.

"We need a couple of early wickets but as a unit I think we bowled pretty well," Moores told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We created pressure and had a couple of lbw shouts that didn't go our way. The lads stuck at their task well."

Graeme's got a slight advantage - he was here through the one-day series playing competitive cricket - Monty didn't have that and his preparation has been compromised Peter Moores

Another appeal by fellow spinner Monty Panesar was less convincing, while Paul Collingwood could not hold on to a difficult chance at slip offered by Gambhir off the bowling of Swann.

Moores was keen to praise the choice of bowlers and field-settings put in place by captain Kevin Pietersen, despite them having little effect after Stuart Broad's early strike to remove Sehwag.

"I thought tactically Kevin got it right today, he captained well," said Moores.

"On another day we might have had them three down at 170 and the option of a new ball so you can suddenly turn it around and get them 250-5.

"We knew it was going to swing here, historically it does, and Stuart bowled a very good first over. To get Sehwag early was a real bonus and I think we bowled pretty well all day.

"It didn't swing after the first seven or eight overs, which we expected and unfortunately we couldn't get it reversing until right near the end because there were showers and the ball needs to be dry."

606: DEBATE Should England apply the same tactics again tomorrow, then I can see day 2 ending with India 400+ for around 3 wickets eirebilly

Moores paid tribute to India batsman Dravid, who responded to a poor run of form and question marks over his position by finishing the the day unbeaten on 65 in a stand of 173 with Gambhir.

"Most people have backed Dravid, he's a fantastic player and has been for an awful long time in Test cricket," said Moores.

"He's known for his mental strength and he showed that today. Early on he struggled a bit to find some rhythm but as he settled he started to play more and more fluently."

Of Panesar, whose poor form continued with a return of 0-41 off 13 disappointing overs, Moores added: "He's worked hard.

"In the two days leading up to this Test he's had long bowls in the nets. Graeme's got a slight advantage in that he was here through the one-day series playing competitive cricket.

"Monty didn't have that and his preparation has been compromised. As the game progresses and the wicket starts to turn more I think the spinners will play more of a role."

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