English wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes on Tuesday recalled the pitch during the first Test match against India in Hyderabad and said that it was 'horrific".
Ollie Pope's counter-attacking century and a 112-run stand with Ben Foakes helped England claw back after Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin's tremendous spells
Ben Stokes' England won the toss and decided to bat first against Rohit Sharma-led India in the first Test match of the five-game series at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Ahead of the first Test match between India and England on Thursday at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the visitors announced their first eleven. Meanwhile, English bowler Tom Hartley is set to make his Test debut.
Foakes watched the Ashes from the sidelines as he had to make way for Bairstow, who was returning from a long-term injury. Though Bairstow justified his selection with the bat, he was guilty of dropping several chances which brought his wicket-keeping under the scanner multiple times during
England's batting wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow showed sympathy for Ben Foakes after he had to make way for Bairstow who is returning back to the squad after missing the action due to a broken leg and dislocated ankle in a golfing accident last winter.
Foakes was a key member of England's squad that won six of seven Tests last summer and maintained his form over the winter, taking six catches and scoring a half-century in the series against New Zealand after missing the first Test due to illness. Under the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum leade
Harry Brook has also started his Test career with a bang. He has three tons and three fifties in his eight innings in five Tests and has scored 623 runs at an average of over 77.