Opener Ben Duckett believed that England’s first innings whole of 246 was above par and stated they weren’t anticipating Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma to play belligerent cricket from the phrase go on the primary day of the primary Test on Thursday. At stumps, India had been positioned at 119 for one with Jaiswal making a fast, unbeaten 76 and he shared a advantageous 80-run stand with Rohit in simply 12.2 overs. “I think we’re over par. It was a tricky Day 1 pitch with consistent spin from earlier on. Stokes was fantastic. I just said come down Day 3, Day 4, that could be a match winning knock if that pitch keeps getting harder to bat on,” stated Duckett within the post-day press meet.

Duckett was fast to offer credit score to the Indian openers for producing a rollicking stand, and likewise thought of it as a touch to the step by step deteriorating nature of the pitch.

“Credit to them. They played really well and were very attacking. You know, they don’t always go about it like that. So, to go about it that way it shows that they probably think the pitch is going to get quite a bit worse,” stated Duckett.

The 29-year-old Kent batter defended using sweeps and reverse sweeps by his colleagues, saying it was not an indication of carelessness.

“We weren’t reckless today. I thought we played well at times and people who normally strike at 150 were dug in and rotated pretty well.” Duckett stated England had been simply attempting to remain constructive on the day.

“We’re trying to be positive and when you get a bit of pace on the ball, we’re going to go even harder. But yeah, they bowled some very nice balls and I reckon I probably could have nicked off about 15 times.

“I missed them after which put the bat ball away, so yeah, actually proud of how we began it,” he added.

Tom Hartley had a tough initiation to international cricket as Jaiswal went after him. The left-arm spinner finished the day with the figures of 9-0-63-0.

However, Duckett had a word of consolation for him.

“We backed Tommy to show to Stokes who decides for him what number of overs to bowl. On some days captains may take you off after two overs and then you definitely’re hiding away for the remainder of the sport.

“But he nearly got Shubman Gill in the end and I am not quite sure how that’s gonna miss the stumps. But I thought he came back really well,” added Duckett. PTI UNG UNG AH AH