England bowling coach Jon Lewis on Monday defended his batsmen’s method within the post-tea session on the fourth day of the opening Test against India, saying accelerating wasn’t straightforward on a “tough” Chepauk pitch.
England set India a world report chase of 420 after being bowled out for 178 of their second innings. The hosts have been 39 for one at stumps.
☝ 15 wickets within the day
🤲 A blinding Stokesy catch
😍 And a nut from Leachy!All to play for on the ultimate day…
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 8, 2021
“The fellows have been constructive in the best way they performed. I don’t suppose it’s a simple pitch the place you will be reckless to attain. However, we have been very comfy with the quantity of overs we wished to bowl on Monday,” he mentioned when requested in regards to the choice to not declare early.
“We are going to attempt to have a chew with the second new ball if attainable on Tuesday. We’re comfy with the place we’re at within the recreation,” Lewis instructed reporters throughout a digital media interplay after the day’s play.
Replying to a different query on whether or not he thought 419 was sufficient and if England would have preferred extra time to bowl on the Indians, he mentioned the batsmen performed positively with an intent to attain and accelerating wasn’t straightforward.
“The pitch is nice however tough. Accelerating towards India in India isn’t at all times simple. The fellows performed positively with intent to attain, however inside the constraints of the situations,” Lewis added.
Requested if England have been proud of the place they have been in at stumps on day 4, the bowling coach mentioned with “that many runs we’re forward within the recreation.”
“We’re actually proud of the place we’re at. With that many runs on the board, we’re forward within the recreation. We have now performed some actually good cricket. We’re assured that we are able to create sufficient probabilities to win the sport.
“I feel that we’re in a really sturdy place. We simply must work exhausting, present the appropriate character and do the fundamentals effectively. Whatever the nice batters that India has obtained, we’ve sufficient within the tank to win the sport,” he added.
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He mentioned the purpose is to make a powerful begin on the ultimate day and put India beneath stress.
“Sure, positively. It’s the first recreation of the collection. Whilst you wish to make a very sturdy begin, you don’t wish to give India an opportunity to win.
“We obtained as many runs as we may and stored the run-rate increased for India. That was our greatest probability to win the sport,” he mentioned.
Lewis praised left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who got here again strongly after being hammered by Rishabh Pant on the third day. He bowled Rohit Sharma with a magnificence in India’s second innings.
“So happy that he (Jack Leach) had obtained that wicket tonight. I believed he deserved that. This morning he bowled rather well… yesterday clearly Pant went after him.
“Pant’s choices have been clearly excessive threat. Leach had been requested to do a selected job. The share may be very a lot in Jack’s favour with the best way he’s bowling.
“On a regular basis as a cricketer you wish to get 5 wickets or get 100, however that doesn’t occur. You could have extra dangerous days as a cricketer… you must cope with these. He bowled very tidily after being attacked by Pant. He seems to be an actual risk on this pitch.”
Requested if they’d any plans for Pant, who was the hero of India’s series-clinching win in Australia final month and smashed 91 within the first innings right here, Lewis mentioned England have particular methods for each batsmen.
“Clearly… Rishabh performs the best way he performs. In our eyes he takes a excessive proportion of dangers. By way of particular plans, we’ve particular plans for each Indian batsmen. We are going to stick with attempt to get the chances in our favour,” he mentioned.
