Mishra will find rhythm
India leg-spin bowler Amit Mishra has admitted that he failed to perform at his best during his country’s drawn first Test against England in Rajkot.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium’s pitch proved to be incredibly batsmen-friendly and the spinner feels that just a little more pace would have made for a more entertaining game.
England fell four wickets short of securing an upset victory in the first of five Tests against hosts India.
Mishra told bcci.tv: “It was a good wicket for batting. It was a slow wicket. It would have been a lot more exciting had there been more pace in the wicket.”
The spinner felt that India’s bowlers could have put more pressure on the England batsmen up front, to push for a result.
Mishra added: “There is difficulty for the bowlers to bowl on wickets that are suitable for batting and you are about to bowl to a side that has already scored 500 plus. It is important as a bowler to bowl in the right areas and make the batsmen commit errors. We tried our best but credit to them for the way they batted.”
The leg spinner missed out on the series against New Zealand and admitted to being a little undercooked going into this Test having only played a few ODIs.
He went on: “I wouldn’t say I bowled very well. It did take time for me to get my rhythm, especially since I was playing a Test after a long time. I was at the bench for two Tests in the West Indies and then sat out in the New Zealand Test series.
“Also, I was coming off from the ODI series so the transition from ODIs to Tests did take some time. Today, I believe there was improvement in my bowling in the second innings and I bowled better.
“The first innings didn’t go my way but I began to get my rhythm in the second innings when the pitch began to help the spinners a bit. Hopefully, I can continue with this rhythm in the next Test match if I get a chance.
“I do have the confidence of the five for I took against New Zealand in Vizag and my preparations will only get better come the second Test.
Despite a nervy end the Test Mishra contends that the Indian dressing room were always confident they would avoid defeat.
He contended: “There was a bit of pressure but we were confident of the outcome. Our batsmen were in form and had runs under their belt.
“The batsmen to follow were also confident that they could bat it out. It was great batting from Kohli and Jadeja, who was very positive and he even went for shots.
“At such a time, the bowlers tend to get on the back foot. That gets them thinking. He was asked to play his natural game but at the same time not try anything flashy. Both showed great temperament and showed we wouldn’t succumb under pressure.”
Mishra feels India will take a lot of confidence from this first game and will grow in stature as the series progresses.
He concluded: “We will take confidence from this Test and there were quite a few positives that we can take into the next Test. We replied well to their 500 plus score and we played positive cricket. We will try to do well in the next match.”
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.