England vs India 2018: Ageas Bowl Pitch is Perfect for Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid - Ian Botham

Former England legend, Sir Ian Botham is of the opinion that the Ageas Bowl pitch in Southampton is ideal for the English spinners, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

The match is turning out to be a low-scoring thriller as of yet. Moeen Ali was superb for England with the ball in hand and finished with yet another five-wicket haul in Test cricket against India. Also, he was the pick of the bowlers for England when India had toured back in 2014. The offie has again shown why he is an asset to the English team.

“At the Ageas Bowl Moeen’s record is very good, he took 6-67 against India here in 2014, which was where he took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Moeen has come off on the back of a double-century and picking up six wickets in a match-winning effort against Yorkshire at Scarborough, and his inclusion was always on the cards after that.

“He gives you a bit of stability, and this is a perfect pitch for both Moeen and Adil Rashid to bowl on. As the game goes on, the two of them will bowl more and for England,” Botham was quoted as saying in his column for the Sky Sports.

Botham also hailed Cheteshwar Pujara for producing a magical knock of 132 runs which has kept India in the match. The visitors were looking like conceding at least a 30-run lead to England. However, it was Pujara who batted superbly with the tail and ensured India took a vital lead of 27 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara worked hard for the runs

Pujara worked really hard. It was baffling to see Pujara being left out of the Indian playing XI for the opening Test in Edgbaston.

“These are the first runs Cheteshwar Pujara’s got this summer, he had never scored a hundred in England before his unbeaten 132 which helped India earn a 27-run lead and his only previous century outside of Asia was the 150 he hit against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Pujara has worked hard. We know he’s a very good batsman, we watched him in India when he scored two centuries in each of the series in 2012 and 2016 against England, so it is no real surprise to me that he has got runs.

I think he will be delighted because he was under the cosh and was left out of the first Test match, but like all good players who get left out, he went and worked on his game and has come back and put things right,” Botham wrote in his column.

The 4th Test at Southampton is currently in the balance. Both teams have an equal chance of winning the match.

While it was Cheteshwar Pujara, who helped India go ahead, for the hosts, it was Moeen Ali who brought them back into the match with a five-wicket haul.

England will begin day three on 6/0, still trailing India by 21 runs. The opening session will be very crucial, and it will be interesting to see how it pans out.