England opener Zak Crawley has ignited the pitch debate ahead of Day 3 of the first Test match, currently being played in Hyderabad. Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of the day’s play, Crawley said that he was left surprised by the amount of spin that the Hyderabad track generated on Day 1 of the game.
“We were surprised by how much it turned on day one, we thought it would be turning more yesterday. Hopefully we can use that today to get the three wickets,” Crawley said ahead of Day 3 of the Test match.
IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Day 3 Live Updates
Home advantage and pitch debates are always a topic for hot debates, especially after the ICC rating Indian pitch for the 2023 World Cup Final as average. Rohit Sharma spoke about the pitch himself after the treacherous Cape Town Test match after the game was finished in one and a half days.
Sharma had spoken in details and said that he did not mind playing in seaming conditions away from home if the rest did not complain about spinning pitches in India.
Crawley, while speaking on Day 3 of the game said that he did love coming to Asia and playing in Pakistan and India, but had been taken aback by conditions in the subcontinent.
“I have loved it here, it is one of the things I love about Test cricket is going all over the world. I felt ready and prepared coming into this game,” Crawley said.
“I’ve played in Pakistan and the conditions are similar here but it turns more. Pakistan was more about the reverse swing, the ball skidding on, but here we knew that spin was going to play a big part so that was a focus in my practice,” he further added.
IND v ENG, 1st Test Scorecard
England were able to bowl out India for 436 runs in the first innings. Joe Root was the star of the show, picking up 4 wickets for the English side in the first innings. England conceded a lead of 190 runs and have a lot to do to remain alive in the Test match in Hyderabad.
“We will still look to play the same way, we will always take the positive option. If it’s not the time for it, we’ll play accordingly but we won’t overcomplicate it and hopefully the runs come,” Crawley said.
