Daijiworld Media Network
Vizag, Nov 17 : Time for the anthems and one can spot the chief minister of AP - NCBN in the audience. The teams sing the anthem with pride and passion and all set for the start of the game. What a toss to win for India and Kohli and a designer pitch to suit their needs. Let's see who comes out on top. Anderson is back and he has the new ball with three slips and a gully in place.
Pitch report version 2.0: 'I don't think I have seen a better outfield in world cricket' is the gushing praise by Nasser Hussain about the Vizag venue. 'It is going to be a turner from day 1' is the ominous warning from Sunny G. This pitch has a history of turning from day 1. It certainly will break up sooner than later. It looks flat but this pitch will crumble. Feels a bit soft but the top surface will crumble. England shouldn't worry as their spinners were better than India's in the last game. 'Last pitch at Rajkot was all about if it was going to turn big, this in Vizag is when it is going to turn big' is the parting shot as Nass signs off.
Teams:
England (Playing XI): Alastair Cook(c), Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow(w), Zafar Ansari, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
India (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami
Cook: 'Looks like a pretty good toss to win. The campaign is in our hands. We have got nothing to lose. Lot of pressure on India with the kind of wicket here. We could upset the odds here, will be a great start for us. Rajkot was almost a result pitch, we almost got there in the end, this looks like it will turn. History and everywhere you read says that it is a result wicket. Little bit of tackiness in the morning. We will look to restrict India to a manageable total. One change, part of a rotation policy for these seven games - Woakes has bowled a huge number of overs on this tour. Jimmy is as ready as he is without match practice, he knows what he is doing with 470 odd wickets, great to have him back.'