England and India drew the first Investec Test match at Trent Bridge after stubborn resistance from the visiting tail ended any hopes of a positive result.
England Captain Alastair Cook saw his side frustrated once more, even resorting to bowling himself, in a move which saw him claim his maiden Test wicket shortly before the sides shook hands.
“It was an extraordinary game of cricket,” he said.
“If you look at it just on the score you wouldn’t think anything that strange has happened, but both sides got massive 10th wicket stands with us thinking 350 will be alright on a really flat wicket.
“Throughout these three Test matches, we’re just having really bad periods and that’s costing us.
“In the end we would have taken 500 and put some pressure on India at the end, and up until half an hour before tea we still had that chance and in the end the wicket won.
“We said at the beginning of the day that we would be totally committed to winning this game.”
India’s batsmen prospered through the week under glorious sunshine, playing on a wicket that offered little for the bowlers. Historically a happy hunting ground for England’s bowlers, they found a Trent Bridge track lacking in pace and carry.
“If you go back to the first day, the first three fours went down to third man for 12, you’re thinking at Trent Bridge a nick like that would be going to slips,” said Cook.
“It took us about 45 minutes to an hour to realise it wasn’t a normal Trent Bridge wicket and we have to adapt to it, have catchers in front of the square and wait for that ball to reverse swing.
“The groundsman has put his hand up and said ‘I got it wrong’. We’re not talking about excessive movement, we just want some pace in it. Make it so that it’s like a good Trent Bridge wicket.
“I don’t think that it out of not trying, these things are very hard to do.
“It’s important that wherever you go in the world it has the characteristics of what you’d expect it to be. In England you like it so that when the sun’s out it’s flat for batting and when it’s cloudy it swings around, on a pitch in which nicks carry.”
England have included Lancashire spinner Simon Kerrigan for the second Investec Test at Lord’s later this week. After being handed a baptism of fire in Australia in the winter, Cook has been impressed with his spirit in coming back into the international fold.
“Simon is a very tough kid. He had a tough eight overs against Australia and he’s fought his way back,” he said.
“Until he plays you’ll never know but from what we’ve seen of him this week and what Mooresy knows of him that’s a very important think. Mooresy knows him better than everyone else, coaching him at Lancashire for five years.
“I’m sure he’ll be nervous to do that but weren’t we all when we first started? Until you’ve made a contribution for England you’re never quite sure if you belong in international cricket at Test level but what I’ve seen from him as a character and the talent he has with the ball, I think he’ll be fine.”