Finally rain works for India.

Frankly, it's about time weather went India's way. After many painful experiences of being denied victory because of rain, India have the relief of avoiding defeat because of rain at Lord's in the first test. As always, it is not just entirely luck. Dhoni played an exceptional innings and most others stuck around for enough time. The partnership with Laxman was crucial and so was the extremely tense 30 ball partnership with Sreesanth.

But on the whole India was way below the mark. The batting has much to improve. Bowlers did much better than expected. But the key really is the middle-order. Both openers got 50s and that is a welcome sign. India will feel a lot better to enter the second test on par with England. If they bat as well as they can, things will become lot more interesting.