7 hours ago
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Brendon McCullum has called for Lord’s to produce a more seam-friendly surface for Thursday’s crucial third Test against India after England were thrashed on a ‘subcontinental-type’ surface at Edgbaston.
The head coach wants ‘something with a bit more pace, a bit more bounce, and maybe a little bit of sideways movement’ as his side seek to recover from a 336-run mauling that allowed the tourists to square the five-match series and had McCullum admitting his team had erred in choosing to bowl.
As England consider wholesale changes to their seam attack for a game they cannot afford to lose, McCullum said:
‘We were thinking the pitch would get better as the game went on.
'We saw that it was more of a subcontinent-type pitch, and I thought India were exceptional.
‘You don’t always get every decision right.
Brendon McCullum has called for help from the Lord's pitch after India humbled England
Joffra Archer is in contention for a first Test in four years as England look to make changes
India hit back emphatically at Edgbaston with a 336-run hammering to even up the series
'You go on what you feel and what you think is going to work.
'If we’ve been honest, we’ve probably got it wrong.’
With Gus Atkinson added to the squad, and Jofra Archer available for his first Test for four and a half years, England are considering an entirely fresh seam attack as they seek to restore the series lead they established at Headingley.
