India, July 14 -- When the ultimate aim is to take 20 wickets, it shouldn't matter who took them or how they were knocked off. But we live in times where there is a pressing need to have an opinion on who can bowl and who can't, rather than who should bowl or shouldn't, writing off anyone trying to put his foot in the door. Safe to assume now that at least for a day, Washington Sundar has made most eat their words.

His name won't be on the Lord's honours board, comparisons with Ravichandran Ashwin will remain far-fetched, and for all you know Sundar will continue to be regarded as an allrounder. But Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Ben Stokes will attest to the guile that made him unplayable on Sunday. On a fourth day Lord's pitch, he made the ...