New Delhi, Nov 22 : Even as the opening day of the first Test match between India and Pakistan concluded by leaving a lot for both teams to ponder over the nature of the wicket, none of the sides seem to have an idea as yet about what would be a good total at the Ferozshah Kotla.

Pakistan was left tottering at 142 for eight wickets after skipper Shoaib Malik won the toss and elected to bat. But Pakistani coach Geoff Lawson did not agree to reporters that the decision to bat first backfired.

Addressing a press briefing at the end of the day’s play, he said it would be tough to score on this wicket, but added that he was not sure about what would be good total.

Defending the batting decision, Lawson said that it was based on the fact that the wicket at this ground helps spinners a lot after first three days.

“We know the history of this wicket, it spins a lot on the last two days. And, we did not want to bat last here,” he said, adding that playing with three pacers does not mean that bowling first is a must after winning the toss.

Admitting that the Pakistani batsmen lacked character today, Lawson said that the way some batsman batted it seemed as if they were yet to get into the Test groove.

“(Today) we played a lots of shots of limited overs cricket. They played some shots as if ODI (one-day international) game was still in their minds,” Lawson said.

Former Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly, who came for the briefing for the host side, also did not say what exactly could be an ideal score.

“It depends on how good a team is,” Ganguly said.

At the end of the opening day’s play, Pakistan were 210 for eight wickets. The toss did not go in Anil Kumble’s favour but the decision to ask India to bowl first proved a wrong one for Malik as the visitors lost three wickets in the first session.

The second session was no good either as Pakistan lost five wickets, leaving the impression that they might be bowled out around a total of 150.

But a defiant unbeaten 68-run ninth wicket partnership between Misbah-ul-Haq (71 not out) and Mohammad Sami (20 not out) steered the team to 210 for eight at stumps. (ANI)