IND vs ENG: England's Spin Misery Puts India Back In Series Hunt
When Dan Lawrence slumped to his knees after getting out on Sunday, it was the surest sign that England was groggy against India's master spinners on a devilish pitch. As England stares at defeat
As England stares at defeat in the second Test in Chennai some pundits are saying it was one of the toughest wickets ever prepared.
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Former Australia player and TV commentator Mark Waugh said the Chennai pitch was "unacceptable", crumbling so early in the game. Publicly, England put on a brave face over the collapse and the role of the wicket. "Incredibly challenging," said assistant coach Graham Thorpe of the pitch, who has experienced his share of batting in India. "We know that pitches deteriorate here as a game goes on and this one has gone a little bit quicker."
"They are obviously a very skilled spin attack in their own conditions," he added. "It was a very good toss to win." When pressed further about the pitch, Thorpe said: "That is obviously for someone above me to look at." But England cannot hide their batting weakness on the day. Lawrence was one of Ravichandran Ashwin's five wickets, falling on the stroke of lunch on day two after struggling for 52 deliveries for his nine runs.
Ashwin claimed his 29th Test five-wicket haul to decimate the England line-up that piled up a mammoth 578 in the first innings of their opening win in Chennai. The venue remained the same, but the pitch changed and England failed to cope, crashing to 134 all out in 59.5 overs in response to India's 329. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel dismissed skipper Joe Root for six as his maiden Test scalp and later got Moeen Ali cheaply as well.
