As the England cricket team intensifies its preparations for the upcoming second Test against India in Vizag, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is leaving no stone unturned to adapt to the challenges of the pitch.

Following a notable performance in the first Test, where Foakes outshone his Indian counterpart KS Bharat, the Surrey cricketer is diligently honing his skills to tackle the peculiarities of the Vizag wicket, known for its unpredictable bounce.

In the initial Test at Hyderabad, Ben Foakes showcased his wicketkeeping prowess, despite a rare lapse when he dropped KL Rahul in the first inning. By the conclusion of the match, experts hailed Foakes as a better wicketkeeper compared to KS Bharat. The right-handed cricketer proved his mettle on the spinning wicket but faced challenges when the ball maintained a lower trajectory.

To address the potential difficulties posed by the ‘low bounce’ Vizag pitch, Ben Foakes engaged in specialized drills during his practice sessions. While wicketkeepers often practice these drills, England Cricket shared a video that highlighted Foakes’s meticulous approach to sudden variations in bounce.

The wicketkeeper’s preparation included anticipating both low and high bounces, a clear indication of the unique challenges that may unfold in the upcoming Test.

While the pitch in Hyderabad displayed consistent bounce for the most part, occasional instances of unexpected variations were observed. The ball either gripped and shot up unexpectedly or kept unusually low. The Vizag pitch may exhibit similar behaviour, leading Ben Foakes to prepare for uncertainties.

Indian pitches are the hardest for a wicketkeeper says Ben Foakes

In another interesting development, Ben Foakes has reopened the pitch debate after England’s first Test victory in Hyderabad. This comes after Foakes compared the Hyderabad wicket to the wickets during England’s previous tour to India.

After England were bowled out for 246 in the first innings of the first Test, Stokes and co. bounced back scoring 420 in the second to win the match by 28 runs. Ollie Pope smashed a record 196 while debutant Tom Hartley rattled the Indian side with his seven-wicket haul in the second innings to complete a historic win for England.

Ben Foakes, the English wicketkeeper has earned praise from pundits for his prowess while compared to KS Bharat. He produced two stumpings of R Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj and stitched a crucial partnership with Ollie Pope scoring 34.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Foakes described keeping on the Hyderabad wicket as his hardest assignment to date due to the inconsistency in bounce. He also emphasized the mental toll it takes on a wicketkeeper.

“In situations like these, it’s about adapting on the go and gaining knowledge because these conditions aren’t familiar to me. I’ve mainly kept wickets to spinners, but I consider Indian pitches, with their unpredictable bounce, to be among the most hardest. In extreme conditions, you understand that things may occasionally go awry, so you need to be mentally strong enough to push those thoughts aside,” he said.

Foakes was also a part of the England squad that toured India in 2021. England had lost all three matches then.

“All three of them were likely the most challenging pitches I’ve ever batted on. Approaching those games, I was thinking, ‘These wickets are dreadful, I just need to figure out a way to stay in’,” he added.

As Ben Foakes fine-tunes his skills in response to the distinctive characteristics of the Vizag wicket, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate witnessing how he navigates the challenges in the upcoming Test match