Besides the surface, the behaviour of the Dukes has also come under scanner with the softer ball hardly offering anything to the bowlers.
Led by Shubman Gill, a defiant India put on a mentally strong and technically disciplined response to keep the series alive with England 2-1 up. While there were plenty of positives to take forward, a few concerns continue to linger as the series heads to a decider at The Oval.
England's Stokes praises Australia's Head, supports his own errant batters
Rishabh Pant's return to competitive cricket after a three-month injury-enforced hiatus will be the primary focal point of India A's four-day match against South Africa A.
'...I thought Test cricket was gone. To be back involved is really cool and I've got to try and enjoy each day that I get.'
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Ashes Test played in Perth on Friday.
Despite the pitch invasion and the hostile reception from sections of the crowd, Kohli remained unfazed.
Spin great Anil Kumble said the Indian bowlers could have done more to maintain pressure on the West Indian batters on Day 4 of the second Test.
Pant took a bit to settle into his rhythm behind the stumps, and once he came to terms with the surface and bowlers the wicketkeeper was quite tidy.
With Bumrah leading the charge, India prised out five wickets in the second session to snuff out South Africa's hopes of reaching the 200 mark.
Intent-driven Shubman Gill shines on Day 1 in Birmingham
'Of course, when you face a quality bowling attack, they can more often than not get the ball in the danger area and it does too much for you. And unfortunately, that's been the case today.'
'They can't afford to go 2-0 down so you want your best bowler.'
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the first Test against England?
Abhimanyu Easwaran made the future path all the more tough with his second duck of the match, while Sai Sudharsan concluded his lukewarm preparation for the South Africa Test series with an underwhelming 23 off 38 balls.
Sarfaraz Khan was a part of the Indian side on the tour of Australia where he didn't play any match and since then has not been considered for any of the 'A' team assignments as well.
Rishabh Pant's place in the playing eleven is far from guaranteed, while Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy are locked in a tight contest for the additional all-rounder's slot as India confront several selection dilemmas ahead of the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.
A virgin Motera pitch has become the big talking point as captain Virat Kohli looks to get the combination right with India looking to continue their momentum to trouble England in the day-night third Test match, starting in Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
We wanted India to grovel: SA coach Shukri Conrad creates a stir
Kotian took four wickets as India A restricted South Africa A to 299 for 9 on the first day of the opening four-day match at the BCCI CoE grounds in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Imam was in a hurry to reach his ton and, attacking the bowling, got an inside edge to Senuran Muthusamy's left-arm spin and was snagged at short leg by Tony de Zorzi's sharp catch.
Gill stated that the decision on Bumrah's involvement will depend on the number of overs he bowls in each Test match and how his body feels after the match.
'We still prepare the pitch the exact same way every time to try and get the same good carry, pace and bounce that the Gabba is known for.'
Star India pacer Mohammed Siraj, who devastated the West Indies batting lineup with a four-wicket haul on the opening day of the first Test on Thursday, said that he was overjoyed to bowl on a green-top wicket after a long break.
It is being speculated that the pitch at Wankhede Stadium here could again favour the spinners.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and West Indies in New Delhi on Monday.
Kuldeep bowled the best ball to beat me in drift and my hands followed: Stubbs on his dismissal
Take a look at the numbers and narratives that made Edgbaston Test one for the ages.
Shubman Gill said he could not have asked for a better all-round performance from his team after they hammered the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test.
We didn't ask for rank turners so need to put in more effort to get bounce and turn: Jadeja
Siraj was named the 'Impact Player of the Series' in Team India's dressing room honours.
Head coach Brendon McCullum and spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel were seen having a long conversation with Ali.
South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram said home side Pakistan were well within their rights to prepare extreme turning wickets for their two-Test series, which starts in Lahore on Sunday, as they did last year to beat England.
Captain Shubman Gill and the ever-dependable K L Rahul gave India a glimmer of hope with resilient half-centuries after a well crafted hundred from Ben Stokes extended England's supremacy in the fourth Test in Manchester on Saturday.
Stokes praises incredibly skillful Akash Deep, says task was to bat out 80 overs
As India and England gear up for the first Test at Headingley on June 20, all eyes won't just be on the players, but on the sky.
India will be accorded a tough welcome to Australia as the Optus Stadium pitch for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been prepared to offer "good bounce and pace"
Virat Kohli, former Test captain, lauded the team's resilience
India pacer Akash Deep was on Tuesday ruled out of the fourth Test against England due to a groin injury, and captain Shubman Gill said uncapped fast bowler Anshul Kamboj is close to making his debut at Old Trafford.
Australia ruthlessly completed a 159-run victory over West Indies in the first Test in Barbados on Friday after Josh Hazlewood's five-wicket masterclass broke the hosts' resistance on a pitch that deteriorated into a bowler's paradise.
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