England have started their Indian sojourn in style. The victory in Hyderabad sent a statement that this team is not here in India just to compete but to win. England made a strong comeback after a disappointing first innings and their never-say-die approach was on display throughout the match. In this article, we will take a look at 3 positives that England can build upon in the second Test to extend their valuable lead.
Inexperience is not an issue
The biggest takeaway for England from the first Test was how the youngsters rose to the occasion. A lot of English players are playing in India for the first time but that inexperience did not hold them back in Hyderabad. The England team management would be proud of the way the players responded when they got overpowered in the first innings. This ability to overcome the hurdle of inexperience is a major positive for England going ahead in the series.
The approach worked
Whenever a team or an organization tries to execute something that has never been done, results hold a lot of significance. When results are favorable there is a belief in the team that they are going in the right direction. This historic victory in the first Test is a testimony to the success of England’s philosophy and it is one of the biggest encouragements for them going into the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
The spinners
One of the most talked about consequences of the first Test was how England’s spinners troubled the Indian team. The first innings did not go as planned for the English spinners but their revival in the second innings is one to be remembered for a long time. The most experienced spinner in the English team, Jack Leach, struggled with an injury in the second innings but other spinners, especially Tom Hartley, compensated for his ineffectiveness. This performance from the spinners will instill a belief in the rest of the team that they can trounce India in their own backyard.