England surprised by India's unexpected batting approach
England batter Ben Duckett admitted that his team was surprised by India's positive batting on day one of the Hyderabad Test.
England's newbie spinners had their work cut out on day one of their tour of India with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma taking them on.
After Ben Stokes' valiant half-century helped England to 246 on a turning day one wicket in Hyderabad, it was Jaiswal who led India's charge, smashing debutant Tom Hartley for a six off his first ball in Test cricket.
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"The way they played at the top was quite positive, and that's fair play to them," England opener Ben Duckett said at the post-day press conference.
"I don't think we necessarily thought they were going to come out and play like that."
Jaiswal raced to his half-century in 47 balls as India's openers made 80 at over run-a-ball before Jack Leach sent back Rohit to give England their only breakthrough on day one.
At stumps on day one, Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 76 off just 70 balls with Shubman Gill (14* off 43) for company.
Hartley and Rehan Ahmed, the inexperienced spinners in the England squad, went at over seven runs per over as India raced to 119/1 in 23 overs by stumps on day one.
"You have to pay credit to them: they played really well tonight and were very attacking, which is positive," Duckett told.
"They don't always go about it like that, so to go about it that way shows that they probably think that pitch is going to get quite a bit worse."
"We'll stick to our mantra and that's taking wickets and looking to be positive. Hopefully that will happen for us as well."