English players don't make good players of spin. That's where the catch lay for India.
Kevin Pietersen, with his swagger, strong wrists and South African tenacity is the player they ran into on the first day of the second Test in Mohali.
The pitch lay bare, and Pietersen slammed 64 runs with the help of 10 fours and a six after England had lost two quick wickets. His knock put England in a comfortable position. The three-pronged Indian spin attack couldn't do much as the South-African born players started to read the length.
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"I don't let spinners bowl to me," said Pietersen after the game. "In the middle of the Ashes last year when Shane [Warne] was bowling I stuttered a bit. I'm not going to let that dictate my play in future against any spinner.
"I feel a bit sorry for the kid who bowled today, but that's just how I play spinners."
Though Pietersen was happy with his batting against spin, he was furious at letting him team down after getting into the groove.
"I'm really cussed getting out," he told reporters. "I was furious getting out at 87 (in Nagpur) and I'm pretty disappointed getting out today. I'm not a happy bloke tonight."
Just before he was out, Pietersen had taken a toilet break, brought on by "spaghetti bolognaise".
The 25-year-old batsman spooned a return catch to debutant Munaf Patel to bring an end to an entertaining innings, which provided the only spark on a gloomy day for the Mohali crowd.
Though he thought the wicket was skiddy from one-end and two-paced from the other, he was happy to have a bat first up in the game.
England captain Andrew Flintoff won the toss and elected to bat after rain had delayed the start of the match. The visitors closed the rain-curtailed day at 163 for four in 50.3 overs with Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 19 and Flintoff not out on four.
