Trescothick takes upbeat view

Trescothick made good use of the sweep to reach 99

England opener Marcus Trescothick said he felt positive about his performance on the opening day in Ahmedabad, despite falling for 99.

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England collapsed again to spinner Anil Kumble, who took five wickets on the day.

But a rearguard action from Craig White led the tourists towards respectability at 277 for six.

Trescothick and opening partner Mark Butcher started well, in a stand of 124.

But, on 172 for two at one point in the afternoon, England tumbled to 180 for five.

It's sad I didn't get one more run but it's just a statistic in the end

Marcus Trescothick

And Trescothick was the second wicket of the collapse, edging the fifth delivery after tea to wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta, just one short of his third Test century.

"I was a bit tense and nervous but I came out positively after tea, as I'd played all day," said Trescothick.

"I scored the single I wanted but just nicked it to the keeper."

But the Somerset left-hander said that he would have been happy to accept a score such as that at the beginning of the day, with the Ahmedabad pitch looking a spinner's paradise from the start.

"I'd get pretty annoyed if I kept getting out for 99 but I played well," he said.

"I'm pretty positive about the day. It's sad I didn't get one more run but it's just a statistic in the end."

Trescothick admitted that England were disappointed by the mid-day collapse.

But he said it was to be expected against Kumble and Harbhajan Singh - both of whom were responsible for collapses in last week's first Test.

"It's easy to do in this part of the world," he said.

"Once you lose one you can lose two or three, as we have done in both games now."

First hour

White put on 59 for the sixth wicket with Mark Ramprakash and an unbroken 38 for the seventh with rookie wicket-keeper James Foster to steer England to the close.

The Yorkshire all-rounder was 42 not out at stumps, and the rookie wicket-keeper unbeaten on 15.

Trescothick pointed out the importance of lower order runs in last winter's series victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and said more was needed on Wednesday for England to turn around a 1-0 series deficit.

"We need a good early partnership for the two that are in at the moment," he said.

"It will be an important first hour."