An England team imbued with sunny optimism these past two years will need it an abundance over the next seven weeks, certainly if their opening day in bustling Hyderabad is anything to go by. We can already say that India, possibly smarting a little from all the pre-series focus on Bazball, appear in no mood to muck about.
Faced with a turning pitch, plus the world’s most ruthless attack in such conditions, England’s 246 all out from 64.3 overs after winning the toss – salvaged by a defiant 70 from Ben Stokes – did put them in the contest. Given it exceeded all but one of their totals during a harrowing 3-1 loss in India three years ago, and featured a good number of the same personnel, it can be viewed as progress of sorts, too.
