Former Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath has urged India’s fast bowlers to embrace the challenge of “adverse conditions” over the next few months, when the team plays 13 Test matches at home
Gaurav Kalra23-Sep-20164:10
‘Test matches bring out more depth in your cricket’
Former Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath has urged India’s fast bowlers to embrace the challenge of “adverse conditions” over the next few months, when the team plays 13 Test matches at home. Srinath, who claimed 236 wickets in a 67-Test career, said this unusually busy home season was a “boon” for India’s core group of fast bowlers as it presents a rare opportunity to develop their skills.”By the end of these 13 Test matches, you can become a completely transformed bowler,” Srinath told ESPNcricinfo. “Where will you get this opportunity? Normally you get three-four Tests, then a break, then you play ODIs, and T20s have come in now, then another break and you come in for the Test matches. The ball is different, the conditions are different, so again you have to come back and bowl and get back into the rhythm.”Here, every month you have a couple of Test matches which means you don’t have to practice, you just have to bowl well in the Test matches. Every ball bowled in a Test match is a well-thought-out ball, you don’t take it lightly. That’s where the learning happens, and you try to understand a batsman in a much better sense. You go deeper into a batsman’s mindset, you start thinking… Psychologically you will be far better when you start thinking every ball.”I think Test matches bring more depth in your own cricket. The body becomes stronger with that much bowling, the right kind of muscles will start developing, so you have to maintain yourself. It is about doing the right kind of gym, what kind of work you have done in the off season, all those things do matter. Your mindset should be very positive that this is a great opportunity and I want to make the best of it. Its not about sustaining yourself, its about going for a win every time.”Adverse conditions are bound to be there. There are wickets which are slower. But the balls that are used in India, they do reverse. You get more chances and you are more effective when the ball is older, so I think that’s another skill you need to add on to your bowling. Sometimes flat wickets can be a little dampening [for the spirit] but I feel it’s a wonderful opportunity to play 13 Test matches in a season.”India fielded Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami as their two frontline fast bowlers for the first of the 13 Tests this season, which is currently underway in Kanpur. Two other fast bowlers were part of the squad – Ishant Sharma, who would have likely been the first choice in the XI, was forced to withdraw from the squad after contracting chikungunya. Bhuvneswar Kumar, who claimed match figures of 6 for 46 in India’s win in the St Lucia Test in the West Indies last month, was benched.According to Srinath, with it being unlikely that India will add another seamer to the playing XI in the upcoming home Tests, the mindset of the incumbent bowlers should be to try and earn selection for each of the Tests over the season and not concern themselves with the nature of the tracks on offer.”What is better conditions, can you really prepare a fast track which will last five days in India?” Srinath said. “Your strength is spin, you have to blend these two, spin and pace, together. Winning Test matches is important, so for that you need to reverse engineer your side accordingly. These fast bowlers who are there at the top, their mindset should be they need to play all the 13 Test matches. If you play one or two and are out, then the next guy plays a few and is out, that intermittent presence will not help the team at all because you are not doing any justice to your own talent, you lose rhythm very quickly, you just come and fill in overs – that’s not what you want. If two bowlers play all 13 Test matches, you see them at the end of it, they will be a different class altogether.”If you sit in the dressing room thinking that the pitch is slow and get into the negative frame of mind, it won’t help. You are young, your body is keen to do a lot of hard work, put it to work and make sure you bowl every ball. Just don’t go and fill in numbers there, be a part of the collective bowling unit and chart the batsmen out.”The absence of a specialist bowling coach among India’s coaching staff is something that has come under some scrutiny of late. While Sanjay Bangar and R Sridhar are batting and fielding coach respectively, there is no one in charge of the bowlers. Srinath laughed off any concerns on that front, insisting that in head coach Anil Kumble, the leading wicket-taker in India’s Test history, there is all the expertise the bowlers need.”Don’t worry about it, Anil will sort it out,” he said. “He has tremendous knowledge about the game, we don’t have to look anywhere else, just go talk to him, he knows what to do.”Asked whether he himself could be a contender for the role, Srinath offered a straight bat. “I am happy doing my match refereeing at the moment.”
Manchester United are believed to be in the race for Fiorentina sensation, Sofyan Amrabat, as manager Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his midfield ranks this summer.
What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?
According to Spanish outlet, Sport, the Red Devils are seemingly ready to rival La Liga giants Barcelona for the signing of the Moroccan international, with the two clubs said to be among 'several' suitors who are interested in the 26-year-old.
The report suggests that United are showing 'serious' interest in the 6 foot 1 gem ahead of next season and have already made 'contact' regarding a potential summer swoop, with the Netherlands-born maestro seemingly up for grabs with just a year left to run on his existing deal.
Amid that expiring contract, recent reports have claimed that the 48-cap warrior – who joined his current side from Club Brugge back in 2020 – could be available for as little as €25m (£22m).
Should Man United sign Amrabat?
The one-time Utrecht and Feyenoord ace has certainly warranted that hefty interest from the Old Trafford hierarchy amid his standout form for both club and country of late, having notably impressed during Morocco's surge to the World Cup semi-final during the winter.
Hailed as a "monster" and the "best centre midfielder in the tournament" by journalist Carlo Garganese, Amrabat was an immense presence for the Atlas Lions amid that remarkable run to the last four, having notably racked up 2.3 tackles per game from his seven outings in Qatar as a marker of his ball-winning prowess.
Also described as "extraordinary" by ex-Spain boss, Luis Enrique, the £32k-per-week asset has also enjoyed a strong campaign in Florence to date, having helped the Italian side to the Europa Conference League final after averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game from his 12 outings in the competition.
Not just a ball-winning machine in front of the back four, Amrabat also offers real quality in possession as he ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for progressive passes, as well as in the top 5% for pass completion.
Chelsea's Mason Mount
That all-round quality is seemingly shared by another of Ten Hag's reported targets in the form of Mason Mount, with the Chelsea playmaker – who could well be on his way to Manchester this summer – also able to make an impact both in and out of possession.
While typically operating in a more advanced role than the Serie A star, Mount also offers a real creative threat on the ball as he ranks in the top 7% among those in his position for progressive passes.
Equally, like Amrabat, the Englishman is also effective at breaking up play as he ranks in the top 12% for tackles made, with the 24-year-old previously described by former Blues teammate Antonio Rudiger as a "master" at putting in the hard yards defensively.
As such, for United to potentially have two figures who can both dictate play and win back possession effectively would be a real bonus, hence the potential excitement at seeing Amrabat lining up alongside Mount in the centre of the park next season.
A round-up of the fourth day’s play from the third round of Group A matches in Ranji Trophy 2016-17
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2016
File photo – Siddhesh Lad’s unbeaten 100 ensured Mumbai took points for their first-innings lead over Madhya Pradesh•AFP
Railways lost six wickets for 30 runs on the fourth day, lurching from 176 for 4 to 206 all out, to hand Gujarat a 294-run victory in Lahli. Resuming from a score of 171 for 4 in a mammoth chase of 501, Railways lasted only 16.2 overs as seamers Ishwar Chaudhary and Rush Kalaria and debutant offspinner Karan Patel mopped up the lower order once overnight batsman Mahesh Rawat was dismissed for 54 in the fourth over of the day. Chaudhary, Kalaria and Patel finished with three wickets each.Unbeaten centuries from Siddhesh Lad and Abhishek Nayar helped Mumbai bag three points in a high-scoring draw against Madhya Pradesh in Raipur. The pair added 200 runs in an eighth-wicket partnership, taking Mumbai to 568 for 7 declared in response to MP’s total of 445. Mumbai’s prospects of a first-innings lead looked shaky early on the fourth day as both overnight batsmen, Tushar Deshpande (62) and Akhil Herwadkar (153), were dismissed by left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma within seven overs. Their wickets left the score at 368 for 7 before Nayar and Lad swung the match for Mumbai with their decisive partnership. Lad, who had scored 100* against the New Zealanders in a tour match in Delhi last month, finished on the same score in Raipur, taking 171 balls for his knock with eight fours. Nayar’s 103 not out, on the other hand, came off 184 balls with nine fours and a six.B Indrajith’s unbeaten 127 could not give Tamil Nadu a first-innings lead, as the team fell 44 runs short of Uttar Pradesh’s total of 524 in a drawn match in Dharamsala. Tamil Nadu were on the back foot at the start of day four, with an overnight score of 398 for 6, and Indrajith, who was on 70 in the morning, did most of the heavy lifting, shepherding the tail and bringing up his third first-class century. He ran out of partners, however, as seamer Ankit Rajpoot struck twice to finish with a four-wicket haul. Tanmay Srivastava then struck 59 not out as Uttar Pradesh closed the day at 114 for 1 declared after batting for 49 overs.Pragyan Ojha and debutant seamer Amit Kuila picked up seven wickets between them to bowl Bengal to their first win of the season, against Punjab in Bilaspur. Chasing 360, Punjab were bowled out for 244 in the dying moments of play under fading light with debutant Ayan Bhattacharya breaking the last-wicket stand of 55 with the wicket of second-highest scorer Manpreet Gony.Bengal, who claimed a 133-run lead, were all out for 226 in the second innings, losing their last five wickets on Sunday morning for 34 runs. Captain Manoj Tiwary held fort with 92, even as Siddarth Kaul, the right-arm quick, finished with 6 for 57, his seventh first-class five-for in nine years. Punjab were driven by a 100-run opening stand between Manan Vohra (75) and Jiwanjot Singh (44). Ashok Dinda, Bengal’s pace spearhead, broke the stand to trigger a downfall before Ojha and Kuila took over. Ojha finished with 4 for 70, including the wicket of Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh for 26, after he went wicketless in the first innings.
أجريت اليوم الجمعة، قرعة دور الـ 16 لبطولة دوري المؤتمر الأوروبي لموسم 2023-2024، بعد اكتمال عقد المتأهلين.
وحجزت الفرق مقاعدها لثمن النهائي، بعد نهاية مباريات المحلق أمس الخميس، حيث التقت الفرق التي احتلت المركز الثالث في مجموعات الدوري الأوروبي وأصحاب المركز الثاني في مجموعات دوري المؤتمر. الفرق المتأهلة في الصدارة
أستون فيلا الإنجليزي
ليل الفرنسي
فيورنتينا الإيطالي
كلوب بروج البلجيكي
فنربخشة التركي
باوك اليوناني
فيكتوريا بلزن التشيكي
مكابي تل أبيب الفرق المتأهلة من الملحق
أياكس الهولندي
أولمبياكوس اليوناني
دينامو زغرب الكرواتي
شتورم جراتس النمساوي
مولدة النرويجي
سيرفيت السويسري
يونيون سانت جيلواز البلجيكي
مكابي حيفا
اقرأ أيضًا | نتائج قرعة دور الـ 16 لـ الدوري الأوروبي 2024.. مباراة متوازنة لـ ليفربول وقوية لـ روما نتائج قرعة ثمن نهائي دوري المؤتمر الأوروبي
Carlos Corberan's past history with Leeds United makes him a good candidate to be their next manager, journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed.
Has Corberan been linked with Leeds job?
The Whites have been looking for a new boss since Sam Allardyce's recent exit from Elland Road, following the end of a dreadful season that saw their three-year stay back in the Premier League come to an end.
Numerous individuals have been linked with taking charge of Leeds and one person whose name has continually emerged is Corberan. The 40-year-old enjoyed three years as the Whites' Under-23s manager between 2017 and 2020, before moving on to prove himself in senior management.
He has excelled at West Brom since taking over early in the 2022/23 season, inheriting a team who were second-bottom of the Championship and almost getting into the playoffs last month, just missing out in the end.
The 6ft2in Corberan could jump at the opportunity to return to Elland Road this summer, this time taking on the main job, although it remains to be seen if he is happy at West Brom for the time being.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
Why is Corberan a strong choice for Whites?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor said that Corberan's knowledge of Leeds could work in his favour, as they look to nail the managerial appointment:
"I do like some of those names mentioned. I like Corberan, obviously he's got that Leeds connection as well because he's worked with the clubs under-23s before.
"But again, it needs to be a project at Leeds. It's a cliché at the moment to say this, but you need to look at Burnley as a kind of benchmark in the model they've used to bounce back and come back even stronger than before."
There is certainly plenty of logic surrounding the signing of Corberan this summer, with the Spaniard an exciting young manager who is already proving his worth with the Baggies.
The progress he has made in such a short space of time at the Hawthorns is remarkable, taking them from second bottom to just narrowly missing out on a play-off place. And, if West Brom do keep hold of him, they will surely go into next season as one of the favourites to head into the Premier League.
Granted, Corberan remains inexperienced, and the magnitude of the Leeds job cannot be underestimated, but the fact that he knows the club so well already is a big positive, and he would also represent a long-term appointment with fresh ideas, rather than someone of Allardyce's ilk.
يبقى مستقبل الدولي البرتغالي جواو فيليكس، الشغل الشاغل لإدارة برشلونة، قبل نهاية الموسم، خاصة مع دخول الجزء الأخير، من عقده في النادي الكتالوني.
جواو فيليكس انضم إلى برشلونة في الصيف الماضي معارًا من أتلتيكو مدريد لمدة موسم، مع خيار التمديد، وتنتهي الإعارة في يونيو المقبل.
برشلونة أكثر ما يشغله بجانب ملف المدير الفني، هو مستقبل الثنائي البرتغالي، جواو فيليكس وجواو كانسيلو، مع انتهاء إعارتهما في الصيف.
صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، كشفت عن طريقة تفكير برشلونة بشأن مستقبل فيليكس، خاصة وأن الأمر ينقسم إلى عاملين، الاقتصادي والرياضي.
طالع أيضًا.. ديكو يرد على إمكانية استمرار تشافي مدربًا لـ برشلونة رغم إعلان رحيله
على المستوى الرياضي، برشلونة يريد الاحتفاظ باللاعب البرتغالي، خاصة وأنه سجل 8 أهداف حتى الآن، رغم أنه في بعض الأحيان يجلس على مقاعد البدلاء، لكنه بشكل عام مقنع للإدارة الرياضية ويصنع الفارق في كثير من الأحيان.
بينما على المشكلة تكمن في الجانب الاقتصادي، حيث أن برشلونة لا يستطيع تحمل تكاليف التعاقد مع اللاعب التي يطلبها ناديه أتلتيكو مدريد، والتي تتراوح بين 70 لـ 80 مليون يورو.
ولهذا السبب، فإن فكرة برشلونة هي تمديد إعارة جواو كانسيلو لموسم آخر، رغم أن راتب اللاعب مرتفع بالنسبة لخزينة النادي الكتالوني، لكن بالتأكيد سيكون أقل تكلفة من رصد المبلغ المطلوب من الروخي بلانكوس.
هناك جانب آخر يبقى في الاعتبار، وهو عدد اللاعبين المهاجمين الذين يمتلكهم برشلونة، حيث يتواجد فيتور روكي وليفاندوفسكي في القلب، وكذلك جواو فيليكس أحيانًا، مع فيران توريس ورافينيا ولامين يامال، وهو سبب يجعل برشلونة لا يريد دفع المبلغ الكبير الذي يطلبه أتلتيكو مدريد.
العقبة التي قد تواجه برشلونة في تمديد إعارة جواو فيليكس لعام إضافي، هي رغبة أتلتيكو مدريد، والتي لم يتم تحديدها بعد، خاصة وأن النادي المدريدي قد ينوي بيع اللاعب لنادٍ آخر والحصول على المبلغ الذي يريده.
English cricket’s ceaseless search for a solution to stress fractures for fast bowlers has a new ally because of the ECB’s partnership with a global leader in athlete analytics
David Hopps12-Nov-2016
Andy Flower is overseeing England Lions’ preparation•Getty Images
English cricket’s ceaseless search for a solution to stress fractures suffered by fast bowlers has a new ally because of the ECB’s partnership with a global leader in athlete analytics.England teams – both men’s and women’s – have the opportunity to wear micro-sensors underneath their shirts in a three-year partnership with Catapult, a leading analytics provider.Raph Brandon, the ECB’s head of science, medicine and innovation, and Andy Flower, the former England coach, introduced the system to England Lions at the national performance centre in Loughborough this week and Brandon says the tie-up, which goes through to the 2019 World Cup in England, has already had “major benefits”.”Lower-back stress fractures will always be a challenge for us,” Brandon said. “It is particularly important for the U-19s that we monitor them very closely and do our best to protect them from injury.”Get the insight and then you can change your decisions. It is a series of learning. Thanks to the Catapult data, we have a comprehensive picture now of combined workload and training and we are establishing that joined-up picture for the best England bowlers, whether they are on contract or on the international pathway.”The challenge facing young fast bowlers as their growing bodies comes under enormous strain is the subject of a two-year research programme at Loughborough into how a young player’s spine adapts to the rigours of fast bowling.Evidence already gathered before the Catapult tie-up is that the spine of a successful England fast bowler such as James Anderson or Stuart Broad becomes as thick as any comparable spine in international sport in order to withstand the constant demands it has to bear.Brandon said: “What we know is if you get to become a Broad or an Anderson your spine on the opposite side of your bowling arm is the thickest spine in world sport. It is thicker than that of a rugby forward or any sports spine that we know. That is based on years of MRI scans with our international group.”As a young fast bowler, you will have your growth spurts where your spine grows but where it is not fully thick. You have to have a super-adapted spine to become an international fast bowler. The challenge is how to get from this thin piece of bamboo spine when you are 18 and very talented to the super-thick spine of Jimmy Anderson.”The bone adapts to loading cycles and gets stronger. You need to load it and then you need to rest and recover. The quality of data we can now capture and analyse means we now have far more facts to support the ‘feel’ we get from the expertise of our coaches in their support of the players.Catapult work with Miami University in 2015•Getty Images
“We can measure run-up speeds, the amount of acceleration going through the body, the amount of rotation going through their trunk, and so much more – in practice as well as matches. We will always have something to learn about the science behind the elite cricketer.”The decision about when to bring a player back from injury is now also likely to be built on many factors other than the old question: “Do you think you can get through okay?” being asked by a coach.”Selection is not dependent upon such data,” Brandon said, “but selectors are aware that we do have this information now. We are adding facts to the feel and the knowledge and the insights that the expert coaches and the players themselves have.”We understand the demands on individual players intimately. So when we are bringing players back from injury we know what demands they will face. If they are coming back to a Test match we have to build them up so they can cope with a certain amount of running, a certain amount of time on their feet, the total distance they are likely to travel and the likely amount of high intensity work. This very detailed work allows us to individualise our training for the players and that gives them confidence.”Although the collaboration with Catapult was motivated by the desire for fast-bowling analysis, it has also provided other insights.”Scoring a century in a one-day international will generally involve between seven and 12 miles total distance on your feet, including many sprints,” Brandon said.Such evidence has informed England’s coaches, and indeed the players, of the fitness demands involved. They will continue to give England ammunition when they chose to pull contracted England players out of county cricket – a regular bone of contention – and they are likely they played a part in Mark Robinson’s demands for better fitness levels when he took over as coach of England women earlier this year.
Liverpool will be hoping to put an inconsistent 2022/23 season behind them due to the fact they ultimately came up short in their mission to try and qualify for the Champions League.
Instead, the Reds will enter the Europa League next term and will hope that they can add the trophy to their lengthy list of European honours achieved across their illustrious history.
Jurgen Klopp will now be hopeful of making his mark in the transfer market this summer, with several signings expected as part of a squad rebuild at Anfield.
One man who has been linked with a move to the red half of Merseyside is Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone, who has held talks with the club over a potential switch, according to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
What's the latest transfer news involving Manu Kone and why is he highly regarded?
Romano delivered an update on the state of play regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Kone on Twitter, stating: "Liverpool are informed of price tag for Manu Koné as talks took place this week. French midfielder could be available for €35/40m, 'Gladbach are prepared to let him leave for that fee. Reds working to complete Mac Allister deal, then Koné's also in the list."
Speaking to Football FanCast, Redmen TV pundit Ste Hoare has indicated that Kone could be an 'upgrade' on current Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, who endured a patchy season for the Reds alongside many of his teammates.
Hoare told FFC: "Kone, I think he might fall more into a project and might need a little bit more time to develop, I don't know, maybe you're looking as a Fabinho upgrade, which wouldn't be the worst option."
There is reason to suggest that Liverpool definitely need fresh blood in midfield and Kone is someone who could offer a new dimension to Klopp's engine room. In 2022/23, the France-Under 21 cap made 31 appearances in all competitions, registering one goal and a solitary assist apiece, as per Transfermarkt.
Manu-Kone
Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig praised Kone for his performance in Borussia Monchengladbach's 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich earlier this year, saying on Twitter: "21 years of age. Another fantastic performance against Bayern. One-man army in midfield."
Tapping into Hoare's notion, there is reason to believe that Kone would be an upgrade on Fabinho, who is now approaching his thirties, when players notoriously start to tail off. Comparing the two players via WhoScored, Kone comes out on top in tackles won, dribbles completed and average match rating, completing 2.5 successful challenges and 1.9 dribbles per game alongside a match rating of 6.81.
On the flipside, Fabinho made 1.8 tackles, managed 0.2 dribbles and obtained a match rating of 6.71, demonstrating that Liverpool could do with some new faces to combat the issues of their ageing midfield.
As per FBRef, Kone also performed 61 shot-creating actions this season in the Bundesliga, illustrating that he can also carry an offensive threat from the middle of the park.
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has undergone a medical at Liverpool ahead of his proposed transfer to the club, signifying that Klopp is serious over restructuring his squad in the off-season before 2023/24, as per BBC Sport.
Bringing Kone, who is thought of as a "replacement for Jude Bellingham", into the mix would be another exciting addition that would help to revitalise Liverpool ahead of the new season and the £37k-a-week ace would be a fantastic find should he move to Anfield.
Alastair Cook said England could “hold their heads up high” despite a 246-run defeat to India in the Visakhapatnam Test
George Dobell in Visakhapatnam21-Nov-2016His words were incongruous in context with the scorecard, but you knew what Alastair Cook meant when he said his England team will leave Visakhapatnam with their “heads held high”.While there should never come a day when a defeat this crushing – in terms of runs, India have only beaten England once by a larger margin than the 246 here – is accepted without pain, you knew what Cook meant when he said his side had “a lot of reasons to be encouraged”.The end came quickly. After admirable defiance on day four, England subsided so quickly that, wicket to wicket, they lost all 10 in their second innings for only 83 runs.Clearly that isn’t good enough. But there were several unplayable deliveries (it is an overused word, but apt for the balls that dismissed Haseeb Hameed and Zafar Ansari) and several that were hugely demanding. Ben Stokes also received a beautiful delivery; it was no disgrace to be dismissed by it.Perhaps the margin was a little misleading, too. England had decided to concentrate on crease occupation, inspired by South Africa lasting 143 overs in Delhi a year ago, and reasoned that, if they could survive 150, they would be close to safety; Cook admitted it may have been a mistake. They made little effort to chase their improbable target. True, it didn’t work out and true, had they played more aggressively, the margin might have been smaller. But they might have lost on day four, too.In truth, by the time England began their second innings, this game was gone and there is no tactic that could have brought it back.This was a game lost on the first two days. By dropping Virat Kohli on 56 (he scored 248 runs in the game and the margin of victory was 246; you don’t have to be a genius to understand his influence) and losing five wickets before stumps on day two, England sustained injuries from which they could not recover. As well as Stokes and Jonny Bairstow batted on day three, as well as Cook and Hameed batted on day four and as well as England’s bowlers – their seamers, in particular – performed on both, the wound was too deep.”When you concede 455 and you’re 80 for five, it’s a long way back,” Cook said. “That cost us the game. Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes showed character and if you take Kohli’s runs out of their second innings – obviously you can’t do that – they only made 120. But when you’re behind it’s very hard to recover in these conditions. It’s all about first innings runs. We showed some good skill and fight, though.”We made a conscious effort to play the way we did in the fourth innings. Of course, when it does not work you feel you could have been more positive. But you make a decision as a captain. We came up a bit short. We fought so hard. I’ve got myself to blame.”Clearly the toss was important, too. But Cook was careful to honestly acknowledge its influence without hiding behind it as the reason for defeat. He knows that once sides start looking for excuses, they are already beaten.”We can all agree it was a good toss to win,” he said. “The first day was the best day to bat. It became harder to score.”On these two wickets, it has been very advantageous to bat first. But it doesn’t guarantee any result. India fought hard and came out with a draw and we weren’t good enough to do it. Those five wickets on day two meant that we weren’t capable of getting close to their first innings score.”They bowled well. They are good bowlers in these conditions. But in Rajkot we got over 700 runs and here we made them work really hard in the last innings. They are good bowlers, but they are not supermen by any stretch of imagination.”Chris Woakes looks almost certain to return in Mohali for the injured Stuart Broad. While there can be no complaints about the performance of England’s seamers in Visakhapatnam, England did – for the first time in a while – appear to have something of a tail. The last three batsmen scored 17 between them in the first innings and the last four nine between them in the second. James Anderson recorded England’s first king pair since 1906. It’s not one of the records he will cherish.There will be more concern about the No. 4 position, though. Ben Duckett never looked likely to score runs here with a first-innings dismissal suggesting at technical deficiencies and a second-innings dismissal suggesting a scrambled mind. Seemingly lacking confidence in his defence – not least because of the repeated manner of his dismissals against offspin – he snatched at a sweep like a drowning man snatching at driftwood. Afterwards Cook referred to a “technical flaw” and seemed to be preparing the ground for a change. It would be a surprise if Duckett played in Mohali.”The difference from playing in Northampton to playing here is quite stark,” Cook said. “Suddenly every innings is scrutinized. Suddenly this technical flaw – whether it’s a technical flaw or not – people are aware of it and there’s no doubt it affects guys. Ben is a really talented cricketer and I think we’ll see a lot more of him in an England shirt. Whether he plays in Mohali or not, the selectors will have to take a call on that.”The problem England have is the form of their alternatives. Gary Ballance was dropped after the Dhaka debacle having averaged only 19.90 in the six Tests since he was recalled in July and failed to reach 30 in his last seven innings. He has actually started to bat nicely in the nets and that first-class record (he has an average of 47.38 with 29 centuries) reminds us he is a player of some pedigree. But it would be a surprise if England came back to him just yet.That leaves only Jos Buttler from a squad that looks a batsman short. Buttler has only had one first-class game in the 12 months since he was dropped. While few would dispute his talent, there is a reason he was dropped and it was, in part, due to his struggles building an innings. He has scored only four first-class centuries – both Woakes and Adil Rashid have double that number – and a first-class batting average of 32.07. He looks most likely to play, though.Ben Duckett’s tough tour continued with another dismissal to R Ashwin•AFP
Ansari’s place will come under scrutiny, too. He endured a quiet game in Visakhapatnam, taking no wickets and scoring only four runs, but he was clearly not well (he vomited on the outfield at one stage) and suffered a back spasm, too. It remains to be seen if he is England’s best left-arm option (Samit Patel would have offered better batting against spin; Jack Leach better bowling), but it would be harsh to judge him on this showing.”He’s had a tough three days physically,” Cook said. “We do think he’s got a role to play, but obviously physically we have to make sure he’s all right. It’s tough enough conditions when you’re operating at 100%, so if you’re not, it’s not ideal.”Broad, though, gained great praise from his captain for his whole-hearted, skilful performance in demanding circumstances. There was no five-wicket haul but, when Broad looks back on this Test, he might reflect on it as one of the displays of which he could be most proud. The tendon injury he sustained on the first day renders it most unlikely he will be fit to play in Mohali.”To get through like he did was an extraordinary effort,” Cook said. “I think he was in a lot more pain than people know and he showed a hell of a lot of character. It’s probably one of the main reasons why he’s been one of England’s greatest bowlers. When it got really tough, he stood up, he bowled his overs and got on with it.”We don’t know enough about the injury yet because it’s quite an unusual one, but yes, if he plays in Mohali, he’ll be a big risk.”Despite the magnitude of defeat, Cook remained relatively upbeat. Partly because of England’s success in coming from behind in 2012 – they lost the first Test in Ahmedabad on that occasion – and partly because his side have, for large periods, competed well, he could envisage a way in which success could be achieved. They ‘just’ have to take every chance and cut out the bad sessions.”What’s giving me belief is that, over 10 days of cricket, we have competed very well in India in their conditions,” he said. “Yes, we have lost by a big margin. But it was a massive toss to lose and in certain periods of game we played some good cricket.”We have put their batters under a lot of pressure. Adil Rashid has been excellent in these two games, a real step up for him. Moeen Ali bowled really well and Jimmy Anderson was good on his comeback. So there have been a lot of good things. But we have got to put the whole game together to beat India. If we can get ahead of them in Mohali, then we can put pressure on them.”Yes, we’ve lost this game, but we’ll hold our heads up high. There are a lot of reasons to be encouraged.”