Nottingham, July 30: Opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, India had the English top and middle-order in a bind before a late blitz by Stuart Broad lifted the inning. Bowling England out for 221 runs, India scored 24 runs for the loss of Abhinav Mukund’s wicket at the end of day’s play.

In an exclusive conversation with www.bcci.tv, Ravi Shastri evaluates Day 1 of the second Test match being played at Trent Bridge.

Excerpts from the interview:

A good day for India today?

It could have been much better. I think the ninth wicket partnership really helped their cause. Had India bowled England out for say 175 [runs] runs or so, they would have [been] more than happy with it. I think they have given 50 runs too many but having said that, it’s their job to bat well now.

Were you happy with MS Dhoni’s decision to bowl first?

Absolutely. I think it was the correct decision and it showed. England could have been bowled out for under 150 [runs] so you couldn’t have asked anything more. The pitch had enough in it to keep the bowlers interested. In fact, it will have enough in it to keep the bowlers interested right through the game.

Who was the pick of the Indian pacers for you?

I think all three bowled well in tandem and Praveen Kumar was again very skillful and bowled well. I thought [S] Sreesanth bowled some really good deliveries but just got carried away when that ninth wicket partnership was going on. He tried to mix up his line and length and paid the price for it. Ishant Sharma was consistent all the way.

How important was Stuart Broad’s innings in the context of the conditions?

Huge! I think he has this ability of playing important innings when it really matters. Because if you look at his only hundred in Test match cricket, that was [scored] when England were 102 for seven [wickets] on Day 1 of a Test match at Lord’s against Pakistan; he ended up making 169 [runs] and it proved to be a match-winning innings . Even here England would have been bowled out [for] less than 150 [runs] but for that knock; he just took the attack to the opposition and that confidence rubbed off on Graeme Swann as well.

What kind of lead would serve India well on this wicket?

It is too early to say […] They will have to bat really well before they entertain thoughts of a lead. [India] will have to bat for at least five hours before they can think of going ahead of England and so I believe they should take one step at a time. [They should] make sure they don’t lose wickets in the first two hours of play; if they have lost just two or three wickets [up to that point], then they can think of what’s a good lead.