IND v ENG 2021: "It looks low and darker"- Ben Foakes says Chennai pitch might turn on day one

He will don the wicket-keeping gloves for England in upcoming three Tests.

By Rashmi Nanda - 12 Feb, 2021

The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai used for the recent first India-England Test came under heavy criticism and now the England wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes has opened up about the pitch conditions ahead of the second Test to be played at the same venue from February 13.

Chepauk's lifeless pitch deteriorated rapidly and became a nightmare for the batsmen as the flat surface gave no relief to batsmen after the first two days and both teams struggled in the rest of three days in the recent first Test which India lost by 227 runs to England.

Rough patches on the surface helped spinners while pacers were struggling at the typical Chepauk pitch that traditionally assists the spinners.

Ahead of the second Test, Ben Foakes, who is set to don the wicketkeeping gloves for England, feels the fresh Chepauk pitch is different from the one that used in the first Test and it might be quite low and slow and may start offering turn earlier than usual in the game.

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Foakes told PTI on Thursday (February 11): “It's different to the last one. It's a different soil and darker soil. I think it might be quite low and slow. But I haven't had a lot of experience with wickets but that would be my guess. I found it quite tricky to read the wicket. I found in India obviously that's (turners) an avenue they would like to go down.”

He added, “The last wicket probably played pretty well for about two and half-three days, maybe slightly longer. I guess there is a potential that it would spin earlier (on this track). I wouldn't like to look too far ahead with that and just look to see what's given on the day and try and play accordingly.”

On being asked will it be a problem keeping up with off-spinner Dom Bess, the 27-year-old said: “I think I haven't probably kept him too much. Probably kept him in a Lions game.”

He added, “I get a lot of time to keep him in the nets and I get a lot of time. I have kept a fair bit here and in Sri Lanka. So I have all my bases covered. Without playing not much cricket, you are going to have that slight doubt since you have not been tested in a while. Hopefully, I will be back in rhythm.”

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Foakes also said that he hasn't had any discussion with Buttler as he is set to keep wickets for England in the remainder of the Test series with Jos heading back home.

He added, “Not really, he was shipped off as early as he can so that he could possibly spend more time with family. Purely watching how great a job he did, I was trying to pick up tips from that.”

The wicketkeeper also admitted that he would have to improve and work on his DRS skills since he hasn’t played a lot of cricket in recent times.

He signed off by saying, “I think on turning wickets keeper comes into the game with such good view. One of those things I haven't done too much. I think I did alright in Sri Lanka (in 2018). One of those things I am not quite experienced and you try in the nets and have a look while standing back and get more experienced.”

(With PTI Inputs)

By Rashmi Nanda - 12 Feb, 2021

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