James Anderson felt that India were nervous while batting in their second innings and that they were uncertain about the target they should set for England in the second Test in Visakhapatnam.

England were given 399 to chase and take a 2-0 lead in the Test series against India after they bowled out the hosts for 255 in their second innings. In reply, the visitors ended the day on 67-1, still needing 332 runs with two days left in the game.

Earlier, India took a 143-run lead after both teams had batted once each but began tentatively in the second, losing two quick wickets for 30 runs. Thereafter, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill scored 81 runs for the third wicket but things slowed down drastically when the former was dismissed for yet another low score even as the latter went on to make a return-to-form ton.

India’s innings lacked aggression as they scored their last 144 runs in 51.4 overs at a run rate of 2.8. No batter after No.5 struck over 55 with only R Ashwin hitting a six in the lower middle order. Iyer, at No.4, batted with a strike rate of 55.77. Each of the top three batters, on the other hand, had a strike rate over 60.

Anderson observed that India went into a shell during the second half of their innings, looking uncertain of what a good target would be. He hinted that England’s current Bazball approach had something to do with the hosts playing with caution, though he steered clear of using the term. “I think the nerves were there to see today, the way they batted, I think they didn’t know how many was enough. They were quite cautious, even when they had a big lead.

“There have been moments throughout the last 2 years, particularly in the last 12 months, that make us think we’re doing something well because of the way teams have reacted [to Bazball]. I don’t know if intimidating is the right word, but it’s putting different thoughts in the opposition’s minds and captain’s minds. It felt like that today – it felt like they were unsure what a good score would be against us.”

Anderson also stressed the fact that England were never under pressure in the day despite conceding a mammoth lead, saying they would have been confident to chase down even 600 runs. “The chat last night from the coach was that if they get 600, we were going to go for it. It makes it very clear to everyone that we will try to do it tomorrow. I know there are 180 overs left in the game, but we will try to do it in 60 or 70. That’s the way we play.

“We have set our stall out, tomorrow will be no different, we will play the same way we have the last two years. Whether we win or lose, it’s not irrelevant because we are extremely competitive and want to win every game we play, but we want to play in a certain way. I think we will be doing that tomorrow.”

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