England Assistant Coach, Paul Farbrace, was left to rue a ‘massively disappointing’ afternoon and evening session after England’s top-order batsmen continued to struggle on day two of the second test match in Visakhapatnam.
An early fightback from England, led by all-rounder Moeen Ali, offered an earlier lifeline before India’s bowlers took centre stage late on.
Only a half-century from Joe Root offered any respectability to the batsmen who, according to Farbrace, struggled to adapt to the tough conditions.
“We didn’t show enough fight to their bowlers, we have to adapt,” he said.
“The morning was pleasing, but we’re all massively disappointed with the afternoon and evening.
“If we’re to become a successful side long-term we have to adapt to conditions like this, they (all) have to practice more and work on it.”
England, despite the collapse, started day two brilliantly. Day one’s hero with the bat, Virat Kohli, fell early on.
The captain reached 167, before edging a Moeen Ali delivery into the waiting hands of Ben Stokes in the slips,
Ali continued his wicket trail in his next over. This time, trapping Wriddhiman Saha LBW for 3.
Ravindra Jadeja then became Ali’s third victim of the morning, as the left hander was also dismissed in the same manner.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Jayant Yadav were left to see out the session for the hosts, who went into lunch on 415-7.
England continued to fight back after the interval and overnight batsman, Ashwin (58) was next to fall, Ben Stokes with the wicket to leave India 427-8.
Eight soon became nine when Yadav, chipped a tempting Adil Rashid delivery to a poised James Anderson in the deep.
The other Yadav, Umesh (13), was the last batsmen dismissed (C Ali, B Rashid), the hosts closing their first innings on 455.
The tourists, however, began their reply extremely poorly. Captain Alastair Cook (2), was bowled by Mohammed Shami with just four runs on the board.
Haseeb Hameed and Joe Root offered some tough resistance in response, taking the score to 34-1. India's pressure, however, capitalised shortly after the tea interval.
Hameed (Run Out, Saha) and out of form Duckett (B, Ashwin) also fell cheaply, leaving England 72-3.
Root brought up yet another test fifty after losing his partner, Duckett. His 24th of an ever-flourishing test career.
He, however, fell just moments afterwards. A sharp catch from Umesh Yadav off the bowling of Ashwin saw the England vice-captain head towards the pavilion.
Moeen also fell before the close, trapped in front by Yadav, England left with a mountain to climb at 80-5.
It was left to Stokes and Jonny Bairstow to see the day out, England under real pressure at 103-5.
Report by Steven Dale.
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