AHMEDABAD, India, (Reuters) – England captain Joe Root believes batting falls have become a “trend” in pink-ball testing and he cannot overstate the importance of the “vital 20 first deliveries” to his teammates ahead of the third test against India today.
Both teams will enter the night-time match at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad after suffering batting debacles in their previous pink-ball tests.
India were dropped for a record low of 36 by Australia in Adelaide in December last year, while England edged for 58 against New Zealand in their last pink-ball match in Auckland in 2018.
“It seems to be a trend, and it’s something you as a batting group need to make sure you stop,” Root told a video conference yesterday.
“One thing that stands out to me is the essential first 20 balls – making sure you get used to tracking the ball, getting used to the conditions and being well aware of how things can change throughout a day.
“It’s not just that moment and the lights, or that twilight, necessarily. Sometimes it’s been right at the start of the game … later in day four, these weird pieces of play have happened.
“When you’re on the right side of it, you’re in the field with a ball in hand, you had to take every opportunity and really make that count.
“As with a bat in hand, you have to make sure those 20 balls, you’re right.”
India leveled a four-Test series 1-1 with a comprehensive win in the second test in Chennai.
England must win the remaining two tests to reach the final of the first World Test Championship on home soil against New Zealand in June.
Speedster Jofra Archer and world-class batsman Zak Crawley have regained fitness, while Jonny Bairstow is also available for selection after resting for the first two games.
Root offered no clues whatsoever on the potential playing XI but preferred to look at England’s batting wealth.
“I think it’s a great headache to have with these two guys back in the fold,” he said.
“Now we have some difficult decisions to make. But these are headaches we didn’t have a year or two ago. And now that’s a testament to the hard work these guys have done. ”