England all-rounder Stuart Broad has lamented the Trent Bridge pitch, saying Indian tracks are faster than the wicket on offer during the first cricket Test here.
English bowlers had to toil hard for nearly two days to bowl India out but not before the visitors had on board a commendable 457 in their first innings.
At stumps, England were 43 for one, still trailing India by 414 runs with three full day’s play remaining in the match.
“Indian wickets are faster than this wicket. But we didn’t get frustrated with it, we weren’t moping or swearing around, we were just trying to get wickets,” Broad said at the post-day’s press conference.
“As a fast bowler you want to see a slip cordon and a gully. It was quite different and hard bowling with three catchers in cover,” he said.
“It was a little bit frustrating. After 50 overs, the ball goes really soft and there’s nothing in the pitch so you try to bowl different lengths and mix them up with bouncers and keep it full. Trent Bridge has come out and admitted their mistake and apologised for it. This ground is known for its exciting cricket and we just hope other grounds don’t follow suit. We can’t say any more than that,” he added.
It was indeed frustrating for England as last-wicket pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami shared a stunning 111-run partnership to bail India out from 346 for nine at one staged.