Birmingham, July 2 (UNI) Having stated his availability only for three out of the five Tests, the visitors are yet to make a call on Jasprit Bumrah's selection for the Edgbaston Test.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate spoke about the potential participation of the star quick in the Edgbaston Test, ahead of the second match of the series against England.
"He is available for the game, we know from the start that he is going to be playing only three out of the five Tests," he said.
"He has obviously had only eight days to recover from the last Test. Given the workload and conditions, we haven't made a call on that selection," Ten Doeschate said.
He added that they will take a call about Bumrah in the last minute depending on the team's requirement for the second Test and how the pitch is going to play.
"He trained yesterday and today, so it is not like he isn't fit to play. It is just trying to fit the puzzle pieces to get the most out of him," Ten Doeschate said.
"We also feel we could go 1-1 or 1-0 without Jasprit but again we'd need him at some stage, we've got to decide when are we going to play our stronger suit," he said.
"We can't win a Test series with just one bowler in any case and the bowlers are very well aware that they need to chip in with wickets," he said.
Ten Doeschate was of the view that the weather in England enables them to play two spinners in the second Test and it would boil down to which two, while looking at other options as well, an ICC report said.
"We'd love to get him Kuldeep Yadav into the team. We are trying to make the best assessment of what it is in front of us, we are aware that we're going to need three seamers in the game, it is just how we manage the (number) 6-7-8 role and how we can get Kuldeep in," he said.
"If the weather remains the same, it is expected that it will turn along the way," Ten Doeschate said.
"Last time we wanted to go with a bowling all-rounder, Nitish Reddy is our premium batting all-rounder at the moment. So I would say he has a very good chance to play this Test," he said.
The assistant coach also spoke about how they felt the team played four games of good cricket in
the first match and yet lost out, and would try to push that past them to put their best foot forward depending on the pitch.
"All three spinners are batting very nicely, Washy (Washington Sundar) is batting very nicely. It is just the combination with which we want to go through - an out and out spinner or a bowling all-rounder," Ten Doeschate added.
"I am pretty sure two spinners will play this Test match," he said.
"If we are going to go with two spinners, Arshdeep (Singh) provides a little bit more control and you have got a left-armer running in from over the wicket if you want to put eggs in that basket," Ten Doeschate said.
Meanwhile, England fast bowler Chris Woakes is keen to help his side press home the advantage in the five-match series after his team pulled off a record chase at Headingley in the first Test.
Woakes, a Birmignham native, is looking forward to performing in front of his home crowd.
"I love playing here, having spent my whole life here. So whenever we come here for internationals (matches), it has got the extra buzz and it is a good feeling to turn up at your own ground," Woakes said.
"Obviously we get a great support over here always and there will be a lot of Indian fans as well, they have got a great support here in Birmingham. I am sure it makes for a great atmosphere for both the teams," he said.
The all-rounder, who is now the most experienced bowler in the squad, after the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad said he is enjoying the new role while passing on the knowledge to the new set of bowlers.
"I have tried to get the most out of my career, I am still in that position where I am trying to get better and I am trying to improve everytime I go out there and pass on the knowledge," he added.
Woakes also spoke about the inclusion of ace pacer Jofra Archer into the squad after four years. Though Archer will not be a part of the second Test, Woakes felt that the fast bowler addition to
the squad will be a big boost to the team.
"When Jof (Archer) is around, he adds a lot to the group, not just as a player but also as a person, as a character," Woakes said.
"He's obviously had a very tough journey in the last few years due to his injuries, credit to him for the hardwork he has put in to get back into the position to hopefully play Test cricket," Woakes said.
"His best is still ahead of him, he is physically great and I am sure he is pumped up to get out there and show people what he's already done in whites. We all know how good he can be, it is exciting
for him and us," he said.
Talking about the first Test win, Woakes believed the brand of cricket that England has played has been successful in the last few years and felt they will try to stick to that, while trying to tweak a bit to perform better as a team.
Woakes also praised Ben Stokes' bowling especially after not having played much cricket leading
into the Test series against India and hoped there is more to come in the series from the captain.
"He was incredible, he is obviously fit and lean at the minute, looking very strong which is great for us. We want him to be that seamer to come bowl and do what he can do, which he did last week (at Headingley)," Woakes said of Stokes.
"On a good pitch, he looked threatening everytime he had the ball, the newer ball or the older ball. It is great to have a leader being able to grab the ball and showing you the way sometimes," he said.
When asked to share the team's gameplan against Rishabh Pant, Woakes said, "Rishabh is a player with whom you don't know what is coming next. He keeps you on your toes as a bowler which is sometimes exciting to bowl against while sometimes he can put you on the backfoot."
"It is exciting to be a part of the game when he is batting, he got two hundreds last match, hopefully we will get him earlier this week," he added.
The second Test between England and India begins on July 2.
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