CHENNAI: Debutant Liam Dawson on Saturday said it could be “hard work” for England bowlers on flat deck after his gritty half-century helped the visitors post a formidable 477 on day two of the fifth Test against India in Chennai.
Dawson scored an unbeaten 66 and shared a 108-run stand with Adil Rashid (60), England’s best for the eight wicket, to lift their first innings total after the Indian bowlers hurt the visitors with early strikes.
England, who resumed the day on 284-4, slipped to 321-7 after overnight centurion Moeen Ali departed for 146, but Dawson and Rashid made sure the the tourists keep going.
England’s innings ended 45 minutes into the evening session as India were firm in their reply with 60 for no loss at stumps.
Lokesh Rahul (30) and Parthiv Patel (28) were at the crease as the hosts trail by 417 runs.
“There isn’t huge amount of spin, hasn’t been much pace in it for the seamers, so tomorrow is going to be hard work for us,” Dawson, who bowls left-arm spin, said.
“But if we keep going all day and keep trying to take wickets then we can take wickets,” the 26-yer-old allrounder told reporters at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Allrounder Dawson, who was a late inclusion in the England squad before the fourth Test in place of Zafar Ansari, showed his batting prowess during his 148-ball stay, hitting 5 fours and a six.
His effort was the highest by an England No. 8 on debut in Tests, surpassing the late David Bairstow’s 59 against India in 1979.
“It is obviously nice to do well on debut. It was interesting first few balls in Test cricket for me but I was pleased to get through them,” said Dawson on getting a bouncer from Ishant Sharma that saw him lose his balance after being hit on the helmet.
Dawson has represented England in a one-day international and Twenty20 earlier this year, but the Hampshire allrounder was thrilled to play a part in the team’s Test performance.
“I was extremely excited and from a team point of view as well, we want to finish on a high. We are in a fairly good position,” said Dawson.
Rashid, who recorded his second Test fifty in his 10th game, also looked solid during his gutsy effort as he fell one short of his Test best of 61.
Score Board
England won toss
England 1st innings 477 all-out (M Ali 146; R Jadeja 3-106)
India 1st innings
K L Rahul not out 30
†P A Patel not out 28
Extras (lb 2) 2
Total (0 wickets; 20 overs) 60
To bat: M Vijay, C A Pujara, *V Kohli, K K Nair, R Ashwin, R A Jadeja, A Mishra, I Sharma, U T Yadav
Bowling: Broad 5-2-6-0; Ball 3-0-9-0; Ali 7-1-18-0; Stokes 2-0-12-0; Rashid 2-0-13-0; Dawson 1-1-0-0
Test debut: L A Dawson (England)
Umpires: M Erasmus (South Africa) and S D Fry (Australia). TV umpire: B N J Oxenford (Australia). Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)
