"It might be..." - Ben Stokes reveals details about IND vs ENG 2nd Test pitch

Ben Stokes led England registered an emphatic 28-run win against India in the first Test played in Hyderabad. While the surface looked easier for the batsmen to bat, the Indian team struggled during the second innings and were wrapped up for 202 runs courtesy of English spinner Tom Hartley’s seven-wicket haul. After winning the first match of the series, England will want to continue their winning run. On the other hand, India would want to make a comeback and level the series.

While the pitch in Hyderabad was decent for batting on the first three days there was less help for the spinners than they would have expected. The Indian team team might hope for a more turning surface in the second Test match and the team shall go with four spinners. The same shall be the tactics of England in Vizag.

England captain Ben Stokes was asked about the pitch in Vizag ahead of the second Test match. Replying to the question Stokes stated that the pitch might be good on the first two days. However, in India and other parts of the sub-continent, there is more turn as the match gets deeper.

Ben Stokes gives inputs on the Vizag pitch

Ben Stokes said, “It might be a good wicket for maybe a day or two. But out here in India and other parts of the sub-continent, you tend to see it start to spin more and more as the Test goes deeper and deeper.”

Further speaking in the press interaction, Ben Stokes said even after a first look at the pitch it looks like there is bit of a moisture in the surface. Stokes added that footholes and other stuff in the pitch shall be seen as the match progresses. Stokes stated that the pitch might play better than it did last week and the team will go with a few pre-conceived ideas in the match.

Ben Stokes said, “Even though it does look like there’s a little bit more moisture in there with the heat – and today is very hot again – any footholes and stuff like that might come into play the further the Test goes. It might play a little bit better initially than it did last week, but we don’t like to go in with too many pre-conceived ideas.”

England shall also miss the services of left-arm spinner Jack Leach as he played with a knee injury during Day 4 of the first Test. Leach also didn’t participate in the practice session and was receiving treatment for his injury. Ben Stokes and Co. have brought in spinner Shoaib Bashir into the side who has arrived in India after facing issues due to the issuance of his visa.

India would also play without Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja, due to which the pressure will be on skipper Rohit Sharma and lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. India might bring in Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar for out-of-form Shreyas Iyer and Shreyas Iyer. Both the batsmen have performed really well in the domestic circuit and also in the unofficial Test match against the England Lions.