No one foresaw the comeback that England posted against India in the first Test of their five-match series yesterday at Hyderabad. Even Indian skipper Rohit Sharma did not.
‘Hard to pinpoint where it went wrong. Having got a lead of 190, we thought we were very much in the batting’: These were the very words uttered by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, in utter disbelief of what had transpired.
Well, that seems to have been exactly what England set out to do, as per pacer Mark Wood.
“They now have to come up with a different plan. We’ve only won one game and there are five in the series. We’ve proved to India it will be a battle and we’re not going to give up. “It’s one of our greatest wins.
“They are a top team. Even coming here before the series, everyone expects India to roll us over… People were a little bit skeptical before but there was always belief in the group. We knew it was going to be a huge task, which it was, but it’s a monumental achievement. Now we know we can do it and we have given India something to think about,” stated Wood in a conversation with BBC Sport.
England, bolstered by Player of the Match Ollie Pope’s mesmerizing 196-run innings dragged themselves back into the game and set India a commendable target of 231 runs.
Then, a sensational seven-for-yielding spell from Hartley, a marvelously tight spell from Joe Root and the experience of Jack Leach all came together perfectly as England bowled India out with ease for just 202, clinching a historic 28-win at Hyderabad.
Despite India being notorious for their spin-friendly pitches, which has always been thorn for the visiting opposition, Wood states that his team are focused to take on whatever is thrown their way and fight till the end.
“I don’t know what pitch they will produce. India have got the potential to produce any wicket here. But now we’ve given them something to think about. It’s not a foregone conclusion that we are going to turn up here and they’re gonna spin us out,” added Wood.
The second Test match between India and England is set to take place at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on February 2.
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