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A brilliant momentum-seizing 134 not out from Paul Collingwood rescued his team-mates from the mire on the second day at Nagpur, as England demonstrated that the personnel may have changed in recent weeks but the team spirit still lingers, according to webside cricinfo.
After a brace of near-misses before Christmas, Collingwood's first century in Test cricket could hardly have come at a more opportune moment for England, given the disarray that has swamped their squad since the start of this tour.
By the close, India were doing their utmost to resume normal service. Wasim Jaffer recorded his first Test half-century for three-and-a-half years, and Rahul Dravid was beginning to cut loose in his inimitably classy fashion, as India's second-wicket pairing eased their side back into contention with an unbeaten 125-run stand. But Collingwood's performance, aided and abetted by a remarkably resilient English tail, was the undoubted highlight of the day.
England's overnight position had been unenviable, to say the least. On a slow and true batting surface, they had slipped to 246 for 7 with Collingwood, England's only realistic hope of salvation, entrenched on 53 not out. The first signs that a surprise could be in store came in a sedate 10-over stand with Matthew Hoggard, which was notable only for the ease with which both batsmen repelled the threat posed by Anil Kumble, Collingwood was content just to bide his time, safe in the knowledge that his partner would not be attempting anything rash.
The new ball made the breakthrough, as the ever-excellent Sreesanth squared Hoggard up with his fifth delivery of a superb comeback over, but the arrival of the bigger-hitting Steve Harmison singled an upping of England's tempo. In a barnstorming 60-run stand, he and Collingwood turned a dicey situation to their favour, with Harmison bringing up the 300 with a stunning trio of boundaries, all off consecutive deliveries from a pumped-up and increasingly livid Sreesanth.
By the close, Jaffer was closing in on the maiden hundred that his stop-start career so desperately needs, while Dravid was just Dravid - cool, calm, collected and digging in for the long haul. This Indian batting line-up has returned from a three-Test masterclass in building monumental innings. Thanks to Collingwood, England are out of immediate peril, but the danger is still very much lurking.
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