Essex’s most famous current player was absent, but Alastair Cook’s County issued a warning to India that despite the harsh summer, England can make life difficult for the visiting batsmen.
Green pitches help the ball move prodigiously and sub-continent teams look at them with suspicion. Coach Ravi Shastri though said this India squad was different and won’t complain after India recovered after being reduced to 3/44.
Skipper Virat Kohli (68), batting at No 5, and Murali Vijay (53) led the rescue in the morning, and in-form KL Rahul (58) and Dinesh Karthik – the top-scorer — produced useful hits in improved conditions against the older ball in the last two sessions.
India, electing to bat, were 322/6 at stumps with Karthik (82 no) and Hardik Pandya (33 no) together.
There was early movement on offer and Essex pacemen Matt Coles in the morning and second XI left-arm pacer, Paul Walter, in the post-lunch session, showed India batsmen are vulnerable when the ball is pitched up and moves on a helpful surface.
The unfancied Essex pacers tested the India top order, which will be crucial in India avenging their 2014 series debacle. Kohli (68) and Vijay, who will be crucial in that task, raised 90 runs for the fourth wicket as a crowd of a few thousands turned up and appreciated good cricket by both sides.
