The third day of any Test match is usually the pivotal one, the one that can set up or even decide the outcome of the game.
If England can build on the foundations of yesterday’s unbroken partnership between captain Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen then dreaming of an England victory could become a reality.
Whoever wins the first session today will go a long way towards winning the game.
We’ve already seen wickets fall in the morning’s play on the first two days and then for some reason batting appears to become easier as the day progresses.
Cook and KP should know exactly what they must do and if they’re unsure then the message from team director Andy Flower will be loud and clear: “Do not give your wicket away cheaply – make the Indian bowlers get you out.” This second Test in Mumbai has already been full of drama, entertainment and high levels of skill on a pitch that is offering plenty of assistance to the spinners.
Whenever games are played on surfaces that offer help to the bowlers the challenges that the players face guarantee an exciting contest.
Too often around the world we see very bland, flat pitches which are full of easy runs and too much in the favour of the batsmen.
The games just peters out into dull, boring draws.
What we’ve witnessed so far in this series means the draw is the least likely outcome. Batting last will be a tough ask for England and chasing anything more than 200 will take some doing.
It is therefore imperative that the disciplines shown so far by Cook and his team continue.
There are very few players who enjoy starting their innings against the turning ball with three or four men close in around the bat.
If you can get through the first 15 or 20 minutes then batting becomes that much easier, but then the real responsibility is to score big runs.
The relatively inexperienced Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has shown everyone how with the right mindset and technique, posting match-winning scores is possible.
After batting for nearly 17 hours in the series without being dismissed, England eventually found a way to him get him out – stumped for the first time in his career.
Cook bats in a similar way and has enjoyed similar success so far but that’s not to say this is the only way to play.
The likes of Pietersen and Virender Sehwag, for example, like to be more aggressive and put the bowlers under pressure and that has worked well for them.
Shot selection and watching the ball very closely on to the bat are the basics of batting and batsmen will always be judged on how many runs they score and under what circumstances. Nick Compton, playing in just his second Test, has not looked out of his depth but has not yet found a way to convert his promising starts into meaningful scores.
Just occupying the crease is not the solution. Having a shot in your armoury to release the pressure that may have built up under some excellent bowling is vital.
Compton will know this and the sooner he is brave enough and confident enough to do this the easier he will find batting in these tough conditions.
There is still plenty of cricket left in this game and I’m just hoping England recognise and seize the moment.
If they do then it sets everything up very nicely for the last two games.