Rashid Khan’s first over in Test cricket went for 13 runs. In his first 10-over spell he conceded 75. He leaked 109 runs before he got his first Test wicket.
This from a bowler who in his short, exciting career so far has on an average given away 3.96 runs an over in ODIs and 5.93 in T20Is, and is the fastest to 100 ODI wickets. Was this really the best leg-spinner in the world or an impostor oscillating wildly between too short and too full and well frustrated?
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a Test talent from the 21st century, he of the prodigious mystery spin, brought out his tricks early. But with control abandoning him, his second over produced a flat six and another down the ground.
Mohammad Nabi, veteran, hero, rock, was called on to bowl in the ninth over of the morning and offered a three-over burst that cost his team 21.
Welcome to the club @ACBofficials!
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1️⃣2️⃣ ??#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/KnHLWA4fEz— ICC (@ICC) June 14, 2018
What was that about your spinners and being the best? – India’s Shikhar Dhawan seemed to ask Afghanistan with every imperious boundary that deflated just a little the excitement of the newest members joining the Test club.
And, for the longest time on Thursday, June 14, in Bangalore, Afghanistan had no response to the left-hander, who in becoming the first Indian to score a century in the first session of a Test threatened to push to second in the headlines their own big day.
And all through this emotional, topsy-turvy day for them, Afghanistan kept their spirit burning. They may not all have had the showmanship of a Mohammad Shahzad to do a little jig for a cheering crowd while on the outfield, but they threw themselves around, never let shoulders droop and rallied around when their captain gathered them with the advice to keep it simple.
“We gripped the game and we started to go with another plan, which was a little bit defensive and we were successful in that,” explained Ahmadzai. It was an experience to play against the best Test side, he said. “Still there are four days to go. We will try to do our best.”
Their first day of Test cricket was a learning experience, yes, but it was far from a chastening for the format’s newest, most eager members.
