Cricket: Stuart Broad took his first steps towards establishing himself as England's main pace spearhead with another impressive display - but he could not stop India dominating day one of the final Test in Mohali.
The 22-year-old Nottinghamshire seamer claimed the only wicket for England at the PCA stadium, with India recovering from the early loss of Virender Sehwag to reach a commanding 179 for one as Gautam Gambhir finished unbeaten on 106.
Discounted from selection for the first Test while he continued his recovery from a hamstring strain, Broad was brought in to replace Steve Harmison, whose lacklustre display contributed to India's six-wicket triumph in the first Test at Chennai.
Captain Kevin Pietersen and England's selectors chose Broad instead this time, and he immediately made more of an impression than Harmison, claiming a wicket with his sixth delivery and generally showing a greater appetite for the battle on an opening day reduced to 72 overs by bad light.
Explaining Harmison's absence, coach Peter Moores said: "He was disappointed to be left out, because he desperately wanted to play.
"But our job as selectors is to pick what we think is the best side and that's what we did.
"Stuart has got a great chance. He's a young man who is developing quickly. We've seen him get himself into the top 10 in the world in one-day cricket, and I think he's got a great chance in Test match cricket to do that as well."
It is not the first time Harmison has been dropped to allow Broad's introduction, England having made an identical switch for the final two Tests of last winter's series in New Zealand when James Anderson was also brought in to replace Matthew Hoggard.
But after Harmison fought back to reclaim his place in the Test side at the end of last summer, and performed so impressively during the victory over South Africa at The Oval, it is a telling sign that England have discarded him only two Tests into his comeback.
Moores insists England have not written off Harmison from their plans, and he may yet be included for the tour to West Indies in January.
But their preference for Broad spoke volumes.
"Steve has gone through a bit of a 'journey' in that 18 months ago he got left out and was struggling for rhythm," said Moores.
"We've seen him come back and bowl well at The Oval and since then he hasn't bowled particularly badly over here. But it's been tough for seamers here, as it always is in India.
"It doesn't mean Steve isn't going to be England's premier strike bowler again and he's not going to play in the next Test; it just means that in the short series here we've picked the 11 blokes that we think are best for the job."
Broad made an instant impression with the new ball, causing problems with swing and seam, including a stunning delivery, to remove the explosive Sehwag for a duck, which seamed away and had its victim caught behind.
His seven-over spell, which conceded only 17 runs, may have caused India to briefly consider whether they had made the right choice in deciding to bat first on a wicket full of cracks.
But once they battled through that early spell, the remainder of the day belonged to them with Gambhir matching the century he scored against Australia on the same ground earlier this winter, while Rahul Dravid effectively saved his international career with a determined, unbeaten 65.
Former India captain Dravid had not scored a half-century in his previous nine innings and remained cautious to begin with before hitting six boundaries, the first of which did not come until his 46th ball.
Gambhir was more expansive. But his progress was slowed by Broad's attempt to frustrate him out by bowling wide, which ensured India scored at a pedestrian rate, by modern standards, of less than three an over.
"I think Stuart showed in the one-day series that he's got real aggression and he's a wicket-taker," added Moores.
"It's early days for him in Test match cricket, but he's a thinking man's cricketer."
Gambhir was given only one reprieve, when he edged to Paul Collingwood at slip on 70 as he attempted to drive off-spinner Graeme Swann only for the chance to slip away from the would-be catcher's fingertips.
The left-hander greeted Monty Panesar's introduction before lunch by hitting him for two boundaries in the same over and he advanced down the pitch to Swann in the afternoon session to hit him over long-off for the day's only six.
By the time play was called off 45 minutes early for bad light, England's morale, already damaged by their defeat in Chennai, was running low, with India heading for a formidable total.