The best that India can do is save this match and, that, is not guaranteed. A depleted English side is playing better than the Indians in their own backyard. It seems that the Indian test team is in need of surgery too.

I avoid making any adverse comments on the umpiring but the umpires in this match ( Aleem Dar and I L Howell) are not covering themselves in glory. This test has been marked by some very poor decisions, particularly from Aleem Dar. More on that later.

Sreesanth got a dubious lbw desicion early and the Indians were all out for 323, giving England a lead of 70 runs. England then scored 297 for 3 for a total lead of 367 at the end of the day's play. A declaration has not come  yet. I would have scored a little faster for the last hour of play today and declared to give the Indians an uncomfortable few overs at the end today. England missed a trick here. With 7 wickets in hand, Flintoff and Jones still to come, they should have given the flat Indian bowling the charge. This may make the difference between a morale boosting draw and an outright win for them. For the Indians, this test will feel like a defeat even if they manage a draw.

Alastair Cook played very well for a debutant, scoring an unbeaten 104. He was lucky to survive two dropped catches. Pietersen was also dropped twice and incorrectly given not out by the third umpire. Batting on 36, Pietersen played a half volley to Kumble who took the catch. The batsman stood his ground and Mr. Howell, who had a good view was unsure if the ball had hit the ground off the toe of the bat. He should have done better than that, but fair enough, he referred it to Mr. Shivram, the third umpire. Mr. Shivram looked at it from all available angles and it clearly looked out. Amazingly, Shivram was not convinced and gave the benefit of doubt to Pietersen who went on to score 87 priceless runs.

A batsman usually knows when he has hit the ball on the ground and Pietersen should have walked. The English players have over the last few months pushed the envelope on the rules and this is yet another instance of 'strategy' in the modern game. You just have to stand your ground on a close decision because you know that if there is any room for doubt or the camera does not get the perfect angle you are going to get the benefit at the expense of the bowling side. I think it is cynical and unfair, but the game is not about  fairplay anymore.

Aleem Dar has been aggressive about his umpiring in this test. It is good to be confident with your decisions but an umpire cannot always be sure about every question asked of him. No umpire can have a yes and no answer to every appeal. There is no shame in being unsure and giving the batsman the benefit of doubt - that is the way it is supposed to be. He has given some aggressive decisions and has been wrong at least 4 times ( Harmison, Flintoff, Dravid and Sreesanth). Even though Sachin was probably out, few umpires would have given a decision that close. Mr. Howell, on the other hand has been at the other end of the spectrum in not giving plumb lbws. Mr. Shivram needs to get his eyes examined before taking any further part in this test.

I recognize that the umpires have a tough job and will make a few mistakes. I feel no joy in criticizing them but there have been just too many errors in this match. While I have been very critical of the performance of the Indians, they have suffered some really poor decisions. If Dravid had not been incorrectly given out on day 3, who knows which way this match would have gone? I hope the umpiring review committee critically evaluates the performance of the 'elite' umpires in this match. Aleem Dar, in particular, should look at the tapes to realize that his 'confidence' in giving decisions may be sometimes misplaced. 

Enough about umpires. Pathan bowled well after lunch after an ordinary opening spell. Sreesanth toiled without reward. Kumble bowled well and was very unlucky with dropped catches and umpiring errors. Bhajji, as always, turned the ball but failed to get wickets - the reasons for that are well known. Both the catching and the ground fielding today were very poor.

Champion players and teams have a way of raising their game when in trouble. Think Roger Federer and Shane Warne. I am afraid this Indian team is yet to display that quality in recent tests. I think the Indians are in serious trouble here. While they may be saved by a lack of ambition from this young English side, a loss is quite possible. A win is only a pipe dream.