India and England are poised to face off in the second Test of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam, with the showdown scheduled for Friday at 09:30 local time at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
Considerable attention has been directed towards the pitch for the match. Recently, the strip’s picture was doing rounds on social media.
Ok, I’m probably as far away as you but… here’s the pitch: pic.twitter.com/xwJosuR85n
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) February 1, 2024
The initial appearance of the pitch suggests a lack of grass on the wicket, as is often the case in Indian grounds. It is expected to be quite similar to what both teams encountered in Hyderabad during the first test. There should be enough turn for the bowlers to make life difficult for the batters. One interesting aspect will be whether India provides a similar pitch or if we are going to see a pitch more favourable to the spin bowlers.
Pitch Report:
Talking about the overall pitch report, the pitch at this venue provides an even opportunity for both batters and bowlers. Initially, the first two days are expected to favour batters, while the remaining three days could see bowlers taking control. With an average first-innings score of 478 runs on this ground, captains will likely opt to bat first. Batting in the fourth inning is expected to be a tough task, as we have already witnessed in this series the pressure that teams face while batting in the fourth innings here in India.
In the context of the India versus England matchup, despite India’s loss in the first test, they are still considered the favourites for the second test in Vizag. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team has maintained an impressive record, having not lost a test series at home in the last decade. However, facing a resilient England side won’t be a straightforward task. The English team, known for their competitiveness, is expected to pose a formidable challenge, making the upcoming match a compelling contest for sure.