Following Graeme Swann's success in the first test, Panesar's inclusion can be no real surprise given the history of Mumbai's spinners surface. The last English victory on Indian soil came in Mumbai with veteran spinner, Shaun Udal being the hero of that test with impressive figures of 4-14 in just 9.2 overs.
With India winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the impression was that it could be a long day in the field for England; however the visitors shocked everyone with the second ball of the day as they picked up a wicket. This was not just an ordinary wicket though, this was a wicket taken by Jimmy Anderson, a seamer!.
After Gautam Gambhir departed, the Indians settled for a while but then it happened, the Monty magic began. The dangerous Vierender Sehway was tamed by the charismatic, left arm off spinner as the crowd were treated to a trademark Panesar celebration. They didn't have much longer for a repeat performance as Sachin Tendulkar's stumps were rearranged leaving India 60-3.
After lunch Panesar hadn't lost his appite for wickets as he had young Virat Kohli caught at cover, fellow spinner Graeme Swann must have felt forgotten as he joined the party by bowling Yuvraj the very next over. Panesar wasn't finished for the day as he had skipper Dhoni caught at slip making his exclusion from the first test seem farcical.
With that England's flourish had finished for the day as India pushed on to close on 266-6 with the unmoveable Pujara and the impressive Ashwin getting a century and fifty respectivly frustrating England in the final session.
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