First Test: what did we learn?

Despite England failing to keep their backers happy - for either game one or the series - there was still something reassuring about the drawn first Test for cricket bettors. The status quo remains: Indian batsmen struggle in English conditions when the ball swings and seams. And that means faith should be kept in Michael Vaughan's side even if plenty of punters' money was washed down the drain after the hosts got to short prices in-running. The first innings collapse by India and the way they hung on grimly in the second proved that their willowmen always have and always will struggle against the moving ball. It is no wonder that that in their last ten series on foreign soil against the established Test nations they have won just eight matches from a possible 38. Indeed some of the dismissals proved how clueless the Indian batsmen were. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, despite a much improved show in the second knock, showed why he is nicknamed Doh!-ni when edging to slip in his first knock. It was as if he was giving the England slip fielders catching practise. Sachin Tendulkar's double failure was not surprising given his decline over the past few years while VVS Laxman also looks a shadow of his former self. Even Rahul Dravid was guilty of failing to come to terms with the movement, tamely edging behind in the first innings and then playing for movement in the second to fall leg before. India desperately need Dravid to get to grips with conditions soon because next time bad light might not roll in to save them.