India relishing spin-friendly Visakhamatnam

The English spin troika of Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Zafar Ansari, who are under the tutelage of Pakistani great Saqlain Mushtaq, outbowled their Indian counterparts in the drawn first Test in Rajkot.

Stokes, who proved with his first-innings hundred that his aggressin can be effective out here, was also praised.

I can’t really say anything about the team selection right now. “I said at the beginning of the tour that we have got some very talented players”. And then since then, he was not available for any of the Test matches against New Zealand nor for the one-dayers.

Ashwin’s bowling average (76.66) in this Test is his second worst in a home Test behind the 83.50 vs England at Mumbai in November 2012. It is sheer coincidence that India will host England at the ACA-VDCA YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium, under Andhra Cricket Association’s (ACA) remit. However, Alastair Cook and Co. made the most of a batsman-friendly surface and easily handled the Indian tweakers.

Cook, who has been captain for four years, also brushed off worries Bayliss could be tempted by any offer to coach his home country after Australia’s innings defeat by South Africa in Hobart that represented their fifth successive Test loss. Seamers, Spinners all have chipped in with wickets and caused havoc in the Indian batting at a certain part in the second innings last time around. It was a slow wicket.

“It was unusual, because of a lot of balls were turning quite big but weren t taking that many wickets”. Speaking to media person, Kumble, however, said they are not focusing on one particular bowler or batsman but on the England team as a whole.

Hameed is keeping his feet on the ground, saying: “Things are happening quickly and I’m not trying to look too far ahead”. But eventually you have to figure out over a span of two or three days how the individual is feeling, how he is behaving, what his energies are like. “I expect the wicket to do the same”, the 28-year-old said. “I think to find that balance was a revelation”.

“I thought the fast bowlers bowled really well”.

But the hard separation was softened slightly by Cook’s score of 130 as he put on 180 runs with teenage-opener Haseeb Hameed (82) in second innings in Rajkot – a record opening stand for England in India. “We will make our strategy according to the pitch and will select the team accordingly”. Many would have seen that we were struggling and under pressure.