By the time we reached Tunbridge Wells in Kent to meet Zimbabwe again, we were preoccupied with the run rates as Australia had drawn level with us on points and had a superior rate. Any improvement in the run rate had to be attempted by batting first for it would have been none too wise to try and do it by imposing a sharper deadline when chasing a total. The aim was to get a 300-plus total which would have given us a rate superior to Australia at that stage. The only fear in my mind was about the wicket which seemed to be damp. The moisture content was pretty high: I could sense the wetness on the surface itself.

Lively wicket

Our thinking was so oriented towards batting first I just did not consider the other option seriously enough although there was a nagging doubt about the wicket in the back  of my mind and what an effect it was to have on us within half an hour. There was substantial movement and bounce to be had from the wicket and both our openers (Sunil Gavaskar and K Srikkanth) were back before they could trouble the scorers. There was some doubt over whether Jimmy (Amarnath) had actually touched the ball off which he was adjudged caught behind and the scoreboard was a miserable nine for four when I walked on to the ground with the glance over the shoulder to see where the sun was.