Ben Stokes, commenting on the Visakhapatnam pitch ahead of the India vs. England second Test, expects favorable conditions for the initial days but foresees increasing spin as the match progresses.
As India and England gear up for the second Test in Visakhapatnam, the talk revolves around the anticipated pitch conditions. The surface in the first Test struck a balance between bat and ball, notably with Ollie Pope’s impressive 196 in the second innings. Despite the initial balance, following India’s 28-run loss in the first Test, expectations are high for a more challenging pitch in the upcoming game.
England’s captain, Ben Stokes, shared insights, suggesting the wicket will favor batsmen initially but progressively offer more spin. When speaking to Cricbuzz, Stokes emphasized the potential impact of heat-induced moisture, stating the pitch might improve initially but highlighted the team’s adaptive approach over fixed strategies.
“It might be a good wicket for maybe a day or two. But out here in India and other parts of the sub-continent, you tend to see it spin more and more as the Test goes deeper and deeper,” Stokes said.
“Even though it looks like there’s a little bit more moisture in there with the heat – and today is very hot again – any footholes or stuff like that might come into play the further the Test goes. It might play a little bit better initially than it did last week, but we don’t like to go in with too many pre-conceived ideas,” he added.
In the series opener, England surprised India by overcoming a 190-run deficit in the first innings to secure a victory. Ollie Pope’s remarkable performance stood out as one of the finest displays by a visiting batter in India. Debutant Tom Hartley excelled with the ball, claiming 7/62 to dismiss India for 202 in pursuit of 231 for victory.
With Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul unavailable for the second test, Rohit Sharma and co. will face challenges in finalizing the playing XI.
Last Updated on February 1, 2024
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