India coach Ravi Shastri defended his side’s decision to reduce their scheduled four-day game against Essex to a three-day game.
The match against Essex is the only first-class fixture India will play before they head to face England in the first Test of the five-match series, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
There had been speculation that India’s unusual move had been made after they were provided with green practice pitches at Chelmsford which may bare little resemblance to the surface they get in the first Test.
But Shastri stressed on the fact that the reason India wanted a day lopped off the Essex fixture was because the team management believed it would be more beneficial if India had an extra day of training at Edgbaston instead.
“(We are) getting in there, into the Test match venue, because it wouldn’t have served the purpose here (Chelmsford),” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.
NEWS: We play on any kind of pitch that is given to us: @RaviShastriOfc
The Indian Head Coach says on away tours the team does not worry about pitches on offer and expects the same from other teams when they visit India. #TeamIndia https://t.co/cXtcfMPsPo pic.twitter.com/y7KV9r4d2z
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 25, 2018
“Instead of an extra day here, I think an extra day (of training) there would be more valuable.
“More familiarity with the venue and the conditions where you are playing the first Test,” the former India all-rounder added.
“If we had played four days here we would have lost that one day there because of travel.”
Shastri said India were happy with the practice facilities at Chelmsford.
“There was no complaints from the Indian management about anything,” he said.
“On this entire trip, you will never see an Indian team giving excuses as regards to conditions or the pitch.
“Our challenge is to beat them. We take pride in performing wherever we go. We want to be the best travelling side in the world.
“So the last person who will make a complaint will be this Indian team.”
To back his point, Shastri brought to light a conversation he had with the Essex groundsman about the condition of the pitch on Tuesday.
“The groundsman (asked) do you want the grass to be taken off? I said absolutely not,” explained Shastri. “It is your prerogative. What you give, we play.”
This guy’s not bad at cricket…
50 up for @imVkohli off 67 balls! 👌#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/CS6ObCNweT— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 25, 2018
Essex who will refund fans who had purchased tickets for Saturday’s fourth day, suggested high temperatures in England were also a factor in India’s decision.
“As a result of India’s five-Test series against England during August and September, and the current high temperatures, the match will now take place on Wednesday 25-Friday 27 July,” said a club statement.
Meanwhile, at the close of play on Wednesday, India were 322 for six at stumps.
While four batsmen hit half-centuries, Dinesh Karthik was India’s highest scorer and remained unbeaten at 82 as captain Virat Kohli made 68.
