India vs England: ‘We couldn’t be in a better place to challenge them’ – Joe Root excited for second leg of the subcontinental challenge
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After an emphatic performance in Sri Lanka, England are all set to take on India in a four game Test series. The series is all set to be a huge clash with both teams coming off well fough series wins. While the hosts will be brimming with confidence having completed a perfect turn around Down Under. On the other hand, the English are coming off a strong win after trailing for the better part of the second Test in Galle.
England captain Joe Root feels that the Lanka series has served as great preparation for the upcoming Test series. Root is overjoyed with the way the side has adapted to the subcontinental conditions.
“I think it’s hugely important,” Root was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. “For me, the most impressive thing this week was that for a large proportion of it we were behind the game, chasing the game. More than anything the way we’ve dealt with pressure today, both in the field and with the bat.“
“To have that expectation for our spinners to win the game, restrict them to a total we could chase down, for guys with very little cricket behind them to take that on themselves was a brilliant effort. And then for our batters to stay as calm and as poised as they did and that partnership towards the end was really impressive. Probably one of the hardest things to manage in this part of the world.“
The challenge is to replicate that over and over again
Barring the top-performing youngsters of the Sri Lanka series, big names in Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Rory Burns will be joining the side for the India leg of the subcontinental challenge. Root asserts that while Sri Lanka was only the stepping stone, the big challenge will maintain their performance for the cricket filled year which awaits them. The English skipper adds that they will have to be at their best if they want to put up a good fight against India in their own den.
“Now the challenge is to replicate that over and over again as a team,” Root said. “We have to look at this as a platform and a starting position and not be happy with what we’ve achieved. We’ve got four very important games against arguably the best team in the world in their own conditions.“
“We’ll have to play right at the top of our game to win out there but we couldn’t be in a better place to go and challenge them. That really excites me and it should excite the rest of the group as well,” Root signs off.
The England squad will travel to Chennai on Wednesday morning (January 27) by a charter flight. They will have to undergo six days of quarantine in the hotel. It will follow three days of practice in the lead-up to the first Test, which begins on February 4.
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Anshuman Mahapatra
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