England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes on Sunday (February 28) admitted that the square turner at Chepauk for the second Test and the Ahmedabad dust bowl provided for the Day-Night Test are the hardest tracks he has kept on.
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In the ongoing Test series against England at home, India suffered a heavy 227-run defeat in the series opener but bounced back strongly to claim an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-Test rubber.
While the hosts thrashed England by 317 runs in the second Test, they won the pink ball game at the revamped Narendra Modi Stadium by 10 wickets.
“Last two games are the hardest pitches I have kept on. In the last game, the pink ball was skidding, I haven’t seen a wicket like that and keeping on it was a good challenge,” Foakes said during a virtual media conference, as quoted by PTI.
“The two pitches that I have played, I have never seen ball turn like that. It’s certainly very challenging. It’s like having day five pitch from ball one.”
However, the last two games have been a great learning experience for one of the world’s best glovesman.
“When the ball spins, it’s fun to keep and in Sri Lanka, it was easy because it was consistent and you knew the ball is going to turn. What I found during pink ball Test was it could spin square past batter or it could skid.”
He also added that no keeper can take every catch on such surfaces.
“On these sort of pitches, you can’t catch every ball.”
Despite his brilliance behind the stumps, Foakes understands that he might not be keeping wickets in the next Test series with Jos Buttler returning to the side.
“The way I have approached is three matches for England and try and play as well as I can. Not look too far ahead and enjoy the moment I guess,” he said.
Foakes believes that the visitors need to make peace with the fact that the wicket will behave in a certain way and they have to give their best shot in the fourth and final Test, starting Thursday (March 4) in Ahmedabad.
“Understanding and making peace that we are going to get out in a certain way. We have to grind it out and just put runs on the board. Be solid and understand our gameplan which will be different for all of us. If you get out, get out but trying to do it your way.”
He also feels that a positive mindset and clarity in their game plan will only help.
“Trying to keep a clear positive mindset because when you are struggling, you don’t get clouded in your judgment as things can go badly, stick to gameplans and processes, potentially at times, be slightly more positive,” he said.
India’s victory in third Test also ensured that England get knocked out of the World Test Championship. Now, only India and Australia are contenders to book a place in the final.
The Virat Kohli-led side will have to avoid a loss in the last Test to secure a place in the WTC final against New Zealand.
“We have been completely outplayed by India and if we can put in a 2-2 draw, it will be a great result,” Foakes concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
