England batted positively, however inside constraints of situations: Jon Lewis

England bowling coach Jon Lewis on Monday defended his batsmen’s strategy within the post-tea session on the fourth day of the opening Test towards India, saying accelerating wasn’t straightforward on a “tricky” Chepauk pitch.
England set India a world document chase of 420 after being bowled out for 178 of their second innings. The hosts have been 39 for one at stumps.

☝ 15 wickets within the day🤲 A blinding Stokesy catch😍 And a nut from Leachy!
All to play for on the ultimate day…
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 8, 2021
“The guys were positive in the way they played. I don’t think it is a straightforward pitch where you can be reckless to score. But, we were very comfortable with the amount of overs we wanted to bowl on Monday,” he stated when requested in regards to the resolution to not declare early.
“We will try to have a bite with the second new ball if possible on Tuesday. We are comfortable with where we are at in the game,” Lewis advised reporters throughout a digital media interplay after the day’s play.
Replying to a different query on whether or not he thought 419 was sufficient and if England would have favored extra time to bowl on the Indians, he stated the batsmen performed positively with an intent to attain and accelerating wasn’t straightforward.
“The pitch is good but tricky. Accelerating against India in India isn’t always straightforward. The guys played positively with intent to score, but within the constraints of the conditions,” Lewis added.
Asked if England have been proud of the place they have been in at stumps on day 4, the bowling coach stated with “that many runs we are ahead in the game.”
“We are actually proud of the place we’re at. With that many runs on the board, we’re forward within the sport. We have performed some actually good cricket. We are assured that we are able to create sufficient possibilities to win the sport.
“I think that we are in a very strong position. We just need to work hard, show the right character and do the basics well. Regardless of the great batters that India has got, we have enough in the tank to win the game,” he added.
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He stated the goal is to make a powerful begin on the ultimate day and put India beneath strain.
“Yes, positively. It is the primary sport of the collection. While you wish to make a very robust begin, you don’t wish to give India an opportunity to win.
“We got as many runs as we could and kept the run-rate higher for India. That was our best chance to win the game,” he stated.
Lewis praised left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who got here again strongly after being hammered by Rishabh Pant on the third day. He bowled Rohit Sharma with a magnificence in India’s second innings.
“So happy that he (Jack Leach) had bought that wicket tonight. I assumed he deserved that. This morning he bowled rather well… yesterday clearly Pant went after him.
“Pant’s choices have been clearly excessive danger. Leach had been requested to do a particular job. The proportion could be very a lot in Jack’s favour with the way in which he’s bowling.
“Everyday as a cricketer you want to get five wickets or get a hundred, but that doesn’t happen. You may have more bad days as a cricketer… you have to deal with those. He bowled very tidily after being attacked by Pant. He looks a real threat on this pitch.”
Asked if that they had any plans for Pant, who was the hero of India’s series-clinching win in Australia final month and smashed 91 within the first innings right here, Lewis stated England have particular methods for each batsmen.
“Obviously… Rishabh plays the way he plays. In our eyes he takes a high percentage of risks. In terms of specific plans, we have specific plans for every Indian batsmen. We will stick to try to get the percentages in our favour,” he stated.