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Indian pitches quicker than Trent Bridge wicket, says Broad
England all-rounder Stuart Broad has ridiculed the Trent Bridge pitch, on which India amassed 457 runs, saying even the spin-friendly Indian tracks would have been faster than the wicket on offer for the first Test in Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
The English bowlers toiled for nearly two days to dismiss India, but not before the visitors put up a commendable 457 in their first innings.
- Coverage of India's tour of England
"Indian wickets are faster than this wicket. But we didn't get frustrated with it, we weren't moping or swearing around, we were just trying to get wickets," Broad said.
"As a fast bowler you want to see a slip cordon and a gully. It was quite different and hard bowling with three catchers in cover," he said.
"It was a little bit frustrating. After 50 overs, the ball goes really soft and there's nothing in the pitch, so you try to bowl different lengths and mix them up with bouncers and keep it full.
“Trent Bridge has come out and admitted their mistake and apologised for it. This ground is known for its exciting cricket and we just hope other grounds don't follow suit. We can't say any more than that," he added.
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'The good thing is that the score is just 460 runs and not 600'
It was indeed frustrating for England, as the last-wicket pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami shared a stunning 111-run partnership to bail India out from 346 for nine at one stage.
"We tried different things, bowled short and full, bowled with different field settings. But they kept it out so well. And it was our best bowling session, with 90 for 4, so we cannot be too hard on ourselves. The good thing is that the score is just 460 runs and not 600 runs which it could have been easily on that wicket," said Broad.
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'When you are going through a rut, things can really go against you'
England's first innings didn't begin very well as they lost skipper Alastair Cook's for just five runs; he was bowled by Shami.
"When you are going through a rut, things can really go against you. You can count on your fingers how many batsmen get out like that? Instead, usually you see it played for just one run. These things happen. But we have the batting to keep India out of the game. Ben Stokes comes to bat in at number eight so we could tire out the opposition as well," said the all-rounder.
"Someone like a Sam Robson is not bothered about scoring and looks to bat and bat. So this pitch might just suit some of our batsmen as well," Broad signed off.