Das makes a strong case for Test recall

In a match that was primarily intended to help plug holes in its lineup ahead of a crucial third Test against England starting Headingley next week, Indian opener Shiv Sundar Das made a compelling case for his recall with a blistering 250 against Essex at Chelmsford.

Das, overnight 165, shared a 105 run partnership on Thursday with skipper Saurav Ganguly. The latter blasted a rapid 74 including 10 fours and two sixes.

Das, 24, was seemingly determined to prove his point, and went on and on, playing 360 deliveries in a marathon 540-minute stint at the wicket to be last out with the total on 516.

The Orissa player narrowly failed to beat Polly Umrigar's 252 against Cambridge University in 1959, the best by an Indian batsman on English soil.

The opener, who had lost his place at the top of the order after an unconvincing display during the last West Indies tour and bad early form in warm-up games leading into the ongoing four-Test series against England, would appear to have clawed his way back at the expense of Wasim Jaffer, who has been singularly unconvincing on this tour, marrying a second innings 53 at Lord's with three failures in two Tests thus far.

To make his case even worse, Jaffer batted down the order against Essex and in good batting conditions managed a mere 17.

The only bowler who could make some impact on the Indian batting lineup was off spinner James Middlebrook, into his first season with the county after crossing over from Yorkshire. Middlebrook took 4 for 164.

With the ball, Tinu Yohannan -- almost a certainty to replace seamer Ashish Nehra in the third Test -- took the first wicket when he bowled Essex opener Robert Clinton for 23.

Essex further lost the wicket of Darren Robinson before holing out, trying to hit off spinner Harbhajan Singh out of the ground but managing only to find Jaffer.

Zimbabwean batting star Andy Flower and young British Indian Ravinder Bopara were at the crease when reports last came in.