Former England captain Eoin Morgan said the tour of India will be the biggest test of England’s method in red-ball cricket. England is facing India in the first Test of their five-match series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
The hosts ended the second day with a healthy 175-run lead on the back of half-centuries from KL Rahul (86), Yashasvi Jaiswal (80) and Ravindra Jadeja (81*).
India will start Day 3 at 421 for 7 with Jadeja and Axar Patel (35*) in the middle. The hosts had bowled out England for 246 runs on Day 1 with Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin picking three wickets each.
IND v ENG, 1st Test Scorecard
Speaking after the end of Day 2, Morgan said England will continue to be aggressive against India, insisting that their mindset has been encouraging despite the conditions. England stuck to their guns and played with the ‘Bazball’ approach early on Day 1 but their run-rate dropped after losing wickets in a bunch in the first innings. They scored 246 runs in 64.3 overs in the first innings at a run-rate of 3.81.
“England’s approach will be to continue being aggressive. It has been unwavering under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Their mindset has been encouraging despite the conditions,” said Morgan.
He went on to say that the tour of India will be the biggest Test of England’s approach in white-ball conditions. India scored at a run-rate of 3.82 in their first innings, playing with an aggressive approach specially against young spinners Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed.
“Without doubt, this India tour – seven weeks, five Tests – will ultimately be the biggest test of England’s method. Throughout every stage today, India have batted like a side on top. They have been assertive and not let England in at any point,” Morgan added.
India will be looking to add to their 175-run lead and hope to run through their batting order on Day 3 with the pitch set to offer more turn as the Test match progresses.
This is the first Test of their five-match series. India has not lost a home Test series in the last 12 years, beating England twice in that space of time. Interestingly, the last team to beat India at home was Alastair Cook’s England side in 2012/13.
