England's Stuart Broad (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of India's Ishant Sharma during the second days play in the first cricket Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England on July 10, 2014.
© AFP
Nottingham: England all-rounder Stuart Broad has lamented the Trent Bridge pitch, saying Indian tracks are faster than the wicket on offer during the first cricket Test here. (Also read: Need to be patient to bowl England out twice, Says Bhuvneshwar)
English bowlers had to toil hard for nearly two days to bowl India out but not before the visitors had on board a commendable 457 in their first innings.
At stumps, England were 43 for one, still trailing India by 414 runs with three full days play remaining in the match. (Also read: Dhoni Joins August 'India' Club in 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 at the post-day's press conference.
"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.
It was indeed frustrating for England as last-wicket pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed 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 90/4, 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.
England's first innings didn't begin very well as they lost skipper Alastair Cook's for just five runs, 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.
Asked if England were already chasing the game, Broad replied: "No. It is just day two. We cannot look ahead so far as a single session changes a Test match around. If we have a good day tomorrow, score 300 for three then we are in a good position. If we get bowled for 150 runs then we are chasing the game."
"The key is to have a good start tomorrow and build on it. 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.
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