IND vs ENG 2024: “Quite a few of the lads have a gameplan” – Ben Foakes on playing on turning pitches

England wicket-keeper bat Ben Foakes said his teammates have a game plan to play on turning pitches. The visitors showed they are not going to be pushovers after winning the opening Test at Hyderabad by 28 runs. England had their backs against the wall as they conceded a huge lead of 190 runs in the first innings but Ollie Pope played one of the best knocks on Indian soil, scoring a magnificent knock of 196.

Meanwhile, Ben Foakes played a crucial knock of 34 runs in the second innings and added a crucial alliance of 112 runs with Ollie Pope for the sixth-wicket.

Ben Foakes said while talking to the reporters as quoted by the BBC, “Quite a few of the lads have a gameplan that will do well on those pitches. That first Test was played on a flat wicket and then they went to raging ‘bunsens’. All three were probably the worst pitches I’ve batted on.”

Foakes was once again brilliant behind the stumps as he continued to impress with his glovework.

The 30-year-old added there is no fear of batting on turning pitches after winning the opening Test.

“It’s more of a mindset shift of how to go about it, because in those conditions the bowler is massive favourite to win the contest. It’s how many blows you can put in.

“Before there was a fear of getting out and that put us in our shells. Now it’s not worrying that you are getting out and accepting that you probably are on those sorts of surfaces. You can actually go and dominate at times as well.”

England batters, especially Ollie Pope were impressive in the opening Test match and they must have grown in confidence.

The second Test match between India and England will be played at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam from 2nd February.