Indians warm up slowly as Udal spins web

Hampshire 33-1 v The Indians 236

India batted indifferently yesterday. There was little of either application or flair. It was almost certainly not a portent of things to come.

The tourists might have desired more time at the crease in their final match before the First Test at Lord's, which begins on Thursday, but these up-and-down country affairs are increasingly poor yardsticks for the serious stuff.

A year ago Hampshire inflicted a two-wicket defeat on the all-conquering Austral-ians, who then went on to thump England in three days and regain the Ashes.

This should not diminish the joy of getting out some of the world's legendary players, but for a sun-kissed crowd it was a mixed blessing. They might have wanted to see their local lads – some of whom they might never have heard of – do well.

However, telling your grandchildren that you once saw Shaun Udal make Sachin Tendulkar look like a mug may not quite compensate for being unable to take them shot by shot through a glorious century. Perhaps attendance at Lord's will be required for that.

Only Rahul Dravid might have used some of his possible quota of Lord's runs, and like his colleagues he was occasionally discomfited. The off-spinner Udal was the county's chief destroyer. This is his benefit season towards the end of a career which was never quite fulfilled. He played 10 one-day internationals and got to Lord's one bright morning as part of the England Test 12 but did not make the cut.

It could be said that he is showing England form again this summer. Before this match he had 19 wickets at 46 runs apiece, which compares to the record of Craig White, who has been picked, of eight at 42.

Udal bowled steadily enough to a rigorous line, helped by some quirky bounce but barely a semblance of turn. He bowled an unchanged spell of 29 overs from the prosaically named Northern End, took his second five-wicket haul of the season and did his average a power of good.

He had a quartet of illustrious names in his haul. Virender Sehwag played on, propping forward after an early array of hitting which contained five fours from the 70 balls he faced. India want Sehwag to play in the Tests and actually know that they would be foolish to leave him out. It is impossible to fit him into their middle order, so he will almost certainly open. It would be a treat to see him against the fast but potentially erratic Simon Jones with the new ball. Anything could happen: India 150 for 1 on the stroke of lunch.

Udal then sent back Tendulkar, who had played a false stroke the ball before he was out. The great man, who had given an instructive masterclass for Channel 4's Roadshow in the morning, essayed something to the leg side and succeeded only in getting a leading edge to point.

The off-spinner might then have had VVS Laxman caught mistiming a pull to midwicket but Robin Smith could not quite hold on to a low chance which injured his hand and forced him temporarily from the field. Instead the bowler first had to settle for Sourav Ganguly, who edged an attempted cut behind. At least umpire Peter Willey said so; India's captain lingered just long enough to suggest that he thought otherwise. And Laxman eventually went to Udal with another outside edge, this one held at slip.

The other wickets were shared. There were two for the 20-year-old debutant local boy James Tomlinson, whose left arm worked up a brisk pace from the Pavilion End with the new ball. He also liked the uneven bounce and had Wasim Jaffer caught behind by Adrian Aymes.

It was good to see Aymes back after injury. He is one of the country's most accomplished wicketkeepers (so says Jack Russell) and it would not be welcome to see him lose his county place for good to the EU passport holder and former South African international Nic Pothas, good cricketer though Pothas may be.

The vagaries of the pitch might have clouded India's initial enthusiasm for the Rose Bowl. It is a new ground, in its second season, and it has obvious potential to be a great one. Next season it has rightly been awarded a one-day international and soon afterwards it will have staged its first Test match.

A word of warning or two might be in order: firstly, it could do with many more completed buildings round its perimeter; secondly, access to the ground on busy days had better be sorted out now, not on the morning when the international is due to be played; thirdly, it needs better batting pitches.

Hampshire had 30 minutes to bat before the close. The main worry as the ball continued to lift alarmingly from the pitch was that John Crawley, picked in the England middle order, might have a digit damaged after the fall of Will Kendall to his first ball. He survived, Hampshire may even win it, but it will mean nothing except in Hampshire.