Indian pacer Umesh Yadav on Friday (September 3) said that the tourists will look to make the most of the batting friendly pitch at the Oval to post a big total on the board in the second innings against England as the wicket is now offering assistance to the batters.
The Indian cricket team was bundled out for 191 in their first innings, in reply, England posted 290, thanks to Ollie Pope's 81 and Chris Woakes' 50 as the hosts took a 99-run first-innings lead on Friday. India were 43/0 at Stumps against England in the ongoing fourth Test.
Umesh said at the virtual press conference after the end of the day 2's play, “Definitely because, with the way wicket is playing now. In the first innings, there was a bit of moisture on the wicket, there was a bit of bounce and the weather conditions were a bit different. The way our batsmen are batting, I feel they will do well and we will make a good score at this wicket.”
The 33-year-old pacer added, “The way we started our bowling, within 40 minutes, we took two wickets, after that we can say it was a drift down, as we conceded 40-45 runs in seven or eight overs, then the batsmen got the rhythm back and came in flow, they also came to know what is to be done.”
He continued, “You are trying everything, but there is no support from the wicket and then after that, after bowlers concede fours, batsmen are on the upper hand and they want to be dominant. I feel we made a mistake, the way we took wickets, we should have kept tight, but I feel a bit more runs were conceded in the middle phase, which shouldn't have been the case.”
The ongoing fourth Test against England is Umesh’s first Test match in nine months and he credited the support staff to keep him in rhythm and in the right zone after taking 3 wickets in the first innings.
He signed off by saying, “Usually, if you are not part of the team, then it does not happen that training or bowling stops. So, you are part of the team, so you continue your training and bowl in the nets, so that rhythm is always there. I feel when you are a part of the team, the physios, trainers and bowling coach and support staff, know that anyone can play, so they keep you in that zone and make you work hard.”
(With PTI Inputs)
