Ahmedabad: Insisting that his team is well prepared for the four-Test series, England captain Alastair Cook said on Wednesday that the visitors will look to put India under pressure when the two sides meet in their opening match here on Thursday.
“There is always a lot of pressure on the home team but one thing we’ve seen is that they have an excellent home record. History shows that they’ve coped with that over the years. Our job is to put them under pressure,” said Cook on the eve of the first Test.
“All through the tour we have said that we have wanted to get used to conditions. It is for the first time since I’ve been playing that we’ve had three practice games. We’d have liked to face more quality spinners but we can’t control that. What we have had available, we’ve had some excellent bowlers in the nets,” added the left handed opener.
Cook also said that his side was ready for the trial by India’s spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, besides Harbhajan Singh.
“We’re ready, that’s the reason why we came here three weeks in advance. You’re going to lose wickets no matter who is bowling, in any game, you can read what you want, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We can always deal with what is thrown at us,” said Cook.
Cook admitted that he would not be able to say for sure about the pitch prepared for the game.
“Wickets change a lot in 24 or 48 hours. Yesterday it looked quite dry and I’ve not had a look right now. The pitch has been re-laid and so there are not many statistics relevant to the wicket,” said the captain.
It is also Cook’s first Test as captain following Andrew Strauss’ retirement.
“I’m obviously excited, a little bit nervous but very proud to be leading. Whatever happens over the next Test match, I hope do a good job in the long run. I hope to get good results.
“I’ll do the best job I can. I won’t be doing anything different from what I’ve been doing in one-dayers. You can’t change who you are,” he said. (PTI)