LONDON (AP) — India fast bowler Ishant Sharma may be a sensational limited-overs player, but a lack of stamina in the five-day game may be the decisive factor if his team loses the first test against England on Monday.
Sharma's spell of 3-1 in 16 balls dragged India back into contention at Lord's. But he said fatigue had then kicked in, allowing England to regain control after lunch and declare with a lead of 457 runs.
"I am a human being and I have a body," Sharma said. "I bowled 11 overs in the first session and we still have another three test matches to play. It's not that easy to come on and bowl another long spell."
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni left the decision on whether or not Sharma should bowl after lunch up to him.
"He asked me do you want to bowl or take a break, and I said I'd take a break," Sharma said.
Sharma was poor in England's first innings. He attributed a vastly improved performance to a change of ends and the advice of injured colleague Zaheer Khan.
"I think in the first innings I wasn't used to this slope," Sharma said. "But I spoke to Zaheer about it and I think it helped me a lot. I wanted to bowl from the Pavilion end, but he told me to bowl from the other end. In the end, I bowled the way he wanted me to bowl and I think it helped me a lot."
Although Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have steered India to 80-1 at stumps, the tourists will have to make history if they are to win on Monday, having been set a world record target of 458.
Sharma admitted he was partly responsible.
"Obviously, I'm happy with the way I bowled in the second innings," he said. "But I would feel more happy if I'd bowled with the same energy and length in the first innings, and I think we would be in a much better position now."
When Sharma did return, 35 minutes into the afternoon session, he almost immediately had Morgan caught for 19 by Gautam Gambhir. But by that stage, England had added a useful 45 runs for the sixth wicket.
Matt Prior (103 not out) and Stuart Broad (74 not out) then took the game away from India.
The chase was further complicated by lengthy absences from the field for Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir, who was hit on the elbow by Prior and was sent to hospital for an X-ray that revealed severe bruising.
Tendulkar will not be able to bat until five wickets have fallen, or before 92 minutes of Monday morning's session have elapsed.
India's highest fourth innings score was 445, when it lost to Australia in 1978. The team made 429-8 to draw with England in 1979, while its highest successful run chase was when it made 406-4 to beat West Indies by six wickets in 1976.
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