For want of an off-season, a series was lost? Zaheer Khan's hamstring strain, which could keep him out of the second Test at Trent Bridge as well, is a devastating blow for India's chances of matching England over four Tests.
As the physio tries to work his magic, it's worth recollecting the kind of itinerary that India's leading players have had to cope with. After the tour of Sri Lanka last July-August that Zaheer missed through injury, India entertained Australia and New Zealand at home in Tests and one-dayers, before heading to South Africa for more of the same.
On getting home, it was time for a World Cup that lasted six weeks. Zaheer was the key bowler in India's victorious campaign, and he then helped Royal Challengers Bangalore to the Indian Premier League final at the end of May. By then, he was carrying an ankle injury that ruled him out of the West Indies tour and also prevented him training properly.
Having come to England clearly carrying some extra timber, he didn't last two sessions. Reduced to a three-bowler attack, with MS Dhoni chipping in, Praveen Kumar (60.3 overs) and Ishant Sharma (54 overs) went through a exhausting workload in four days. India's dismal over rate - Dhoni was warned after the recent Test in Barbados - also prevented them from going for the kill after lunch, when Suresh Raina was called on to bowl despite Ishant having rattled the English cage before the interval.
A similarly lackadaisical approach cost Ricky Ponting and Australia a Test in Nagpur three years ago. With Dhoni facing a possible ban, the soft option gave England the respite they needed to regroup and set a target that should win them the game.
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