IND vs ENG - After calling Hyderabad 'horrific wickets', Ben Foakes says England looking to put pressure on Indian bowlers in 2nd Test

Ben Foakes described the Hyderabad pitch as nothing short of nightmarish, emphasising the challenges both batters and bowlers encountered.

England defeated India in the 1st Test

After securing a victory against India, England is gearing up to face the host nation in the second match of the five-game Test series in Visakhapatnam. Reflecting on their win in the initial Test, English wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes highlighted the challenging conditions of the pitch in Hyderabad. However, looking ahead to the upcoming Test, Foakes stated that the team is determined to add pressure on the Indian bowlers.

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In a recent interview, Foakes described the pitch as nothing short of nightmarish, emphasising the challenges both batters and bowlers encountered. Nevertheless, rather than dwelling on past difficulties, Foakes emphasised the team's shift in focus towards the upcoming Test match in Vizag.

"Going into that, I was thinking, 'These are horrific wickets - I just need to find a way to stay in' I think now the group is more, if that's the situation, you've got to be positive; got to put it [pressure] back on the bowler and put them under pressure," Foakes was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.

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He further added that the English batters are still grappling with the fear of getting out, leading them to adopt a defensive and hesitant approach. "Before, there was more of a fear of getting out and that put us in our shells. Whereas now it's not worrying that you are getting out and accepting that you probably are on those sorts of surfaces. But how can you actually go and dominate at times as well?" he added.

How did India lose the 1st Test?

India will be looking for redemption after facing a 1-0 setback in the five-match series. The home team had control over the game for the most part, but on Day 3, Ollie Pope walked to the crease and single-handedly transformed the entire complexion of the game. He not only nullified India's 190-run lead but also set England a defendable target on a challenging surface with his 196-run knock.

ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, 1st Test - How India lost a winning match against England in Hyderabad - HIGHLIGHTS

Adding to India's woes, debutant Tom Hartley, who had conceded runs in the first innings, made a strong comeback as he dismissed the Indian batters with his exceptional spell of 7/62. His remarkable performance culminated in a Test figure of 9/193, the best recorded by an England spinner on Test debut since 1945.

As for the 2nd Test, both England and India have arrived in Visakhapatnam. The second clash is scheduled to begin on Friday (February 2).

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