- By Stephan Shemilt
- Chief cricket writer in Hyderabad
1 hour ago
image source, Getty Images
image description,
Mark Wood was England's only seamer in Hyderabad, the first time England had taken part in a Test with only one specialist seamer
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India vs England, second Test |
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Dates: 2nd – 6th February Venue: Visakhapatnam Time: 04:00 GMT |
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Coverage: Live text commentary on the ` Sport website and app, with daily Test Match Special podcasts on ` Sounds. |
England fast bowler Mark Wood says their stunning win in the first Test in Hyderabad “made India think”.
The tourists overcame a 190-run deficit to win by 28 runs, only India's fourth home defeat in 47 Tests.
“They have to come up with a different plan now,” Wood told ` Sport.
“We have only won one game and there are five in the series. We have proven to India that it will be a tough fight and we will not give up.”
England's victory was based on an epic 196 from Ollie Pope, the fourth-highest second-innings score ever achieved by an overseas batsman in a Test in India.
After setting 231 for victory, the hosts were bowled out for 202 in the final minutes of the fourth day, with left-back Tom Hartley taking 7-62, the best tally by an England spinner on his debut in 91 years.
Only twice before have England won a Test after conceding such a large lead in the first innings, while India have never been beaten at home by a lead of more than 100 runs.
“It’s one of our greatest victories,” said the 34-year-old Wood. “People were a bit skeptical beforehand, but the belief in the group was always there.
“We knew it would be a huge task, and it was, but it is a monumental achievement. Now we know we can do it and we have given India something to think about.”
The second Test begins on Friday in Visakhapatnam. India have not lost two Tests in the same home series since England's tour in 2012, when the hosts last suffered defeat in this country.
And Durham's Wood says England will expect a response from Rohit Sharma's side.
“They’re a top team,” Wood added. “Even if we come here before the series, everyone expects India to overwhelm us.”
“I don’t know what pitch they’re going to produce. India have the potential to produce every wicket here but now we have given them something to think about.”
“It’s not a foregone conclusion that we show up here and they kick us out.”
In the first Test, England fielded three frontline spinners, leaving Wood as the only seam bowler. It was the first time in Test history that England included only one specialist seamer in their team.
Before this series, Wood said he did not expect to play in all five Tests. Although his workload in Hyderabad was relatively light at 25 overs, he said he will “wait and see” how he feels when England resume training on Wednesday.
James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and the uncapped Gus Atkinson are the other pace bowlers in the squad.
England awaits the fitness of senior spinner Jack Leach, who struggled with a knee injury in Hyderabad but managed to bowl 10 overs on the fourth day. Shoaib Bashir, an uncapped off-spinner who had to return to the UK due to a visa delay, is now in the squad.
India will assess the fitness of key all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who appeared to have sustained a hamstring injury when he was thrown out in the second innings of the first Test.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been given a demerit point by the International Cricket Council after he admitted getting in the way of Pope and shoulder attacking the England batter on day four.
It is Bumrah's first offense in 24 months. Four or more negative points result in a ban.
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