AHMEDABAD (INDIA) – England captain Joe Root believes batting collapses have become a “trend” in pink-ball tests. He said he stressed on the importance of the “vital first 20 deliveries” to his team mates before the third test against India on Wednesday.
Both teams will step into the day-night contest in the stadium in Ahmedabad, considered world’s largest cricket stadium. The two sides have fallen prey to batting debacles in their respective previous pink-ball tests.
India were defeated for a record low of 36 by Australia in Adelaide in December last year, while England hit almost the same level for 58 against New Zealand in their last pink-ball match in Auckland in 2018.
Root told a video conference on Tuesday, “It seems to be a trend, and it’s something that as a batting group you need to make sure that you stop.”
“One thing that stands out to me is the vital first 20 balls — making sure you get used to tracking the ball, get used to the conditions and being very aware of how things can change throughout the day.
“It’s not necessarily just been that one moment and the lights, or that twilight period. It’s sometimes been right at the start of the game… later on in day four, these strange passages of play have happened.
“When you’re on the right side of it, you’re in the field with a ball in hand, you really got to take every opportunity and make that really count.
“Similarly with a bat in hand, you just got to really make sure that those 20 balls, you’re fine.”
India equalled the four-test series 1-1 by sealing a victory in the second test in Chennai.
England must win the remaining two tests to make the final of the inaugural World Test Championship on home grounds against New Zealand in June.
Jofra Archer and Zak Crawley have gotten back their fitness, while Jonny Bairstow is also available for selection after being out for rest for the first two matches.
Root, however, did not give out any clues, whatsoever on the possible playing XI, but chose to look at England’s batting standards.
“I think it’s a great headache to have with these two guys back in the fold,” he said.
“Now we have got some difficult decisions to make. But these are headaches that we didn’t have a year or so ago. And now that’s testament to the hard work that these guys have put in.”
