It will be a difficult day for bowlers, says Liam Dawson

It will be a difficult day for bowlers, says Liam Dawson

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England's Liam Dawson has felt that the pitch at Chepauk Stadium will pose difficulties for the bowlers to get wickets on the third day. The limited-overs specialist also expressed satisfaction over scoring an impressive fifty on his Test debut in the fifth Test at Chennai against India.

“It’s a pretty good wicket. 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. But if we keep going all day and keep trying to take wickets then we can take wickets,” England debutant Liam Dawson told the press in his post-match interview.

Dawson made an impressive Test debut by scoring an unbeaten 66 to take England to a big total of 477 in the first innings but was sternly tested by Ishant Sharma's bouncers. The rookie all-rounder expressed his relief at escaping the short ball from the Indian pacer.

“It was a good bouncer, I tried to watch it as hard as I could, but that’s part of the game. Sometimes you get it a little bit wrong. As I said, I was pleased to get through. I think you got to take one ball at a time and that’s what I was thinking.

“I put that ball at the back of my mind and I just managed to concentrate on ball at a hat was crucial. I haven’t really thought too much to be fair. I have prepared, I have done what I do for Hampshire and that’s all I can do,” he added.

Dawson, who was plying his trade in the Bangladesh Premier League, was called up by the England team following a back injury to off-spinner Zafar Ansari and the 26-year old described his Test debut as 'very special'.

“When I went to Bangladesh for the BPL, Test cricket didn’t even cross my mind. So to be here now and making my Test debut in India is obviously very special,” he said.

“It is obviously nice to do well on debut. The first few balls in Test cricket was interesting for me, but I was pleased to get through them. It was my Test debut, I was always going to be up for it. You make one Test debut. 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, who made his ODI debut for England earlier in the year.

“It’s obviously nice to get small milestones. It’s obviously a small milestone. From a personal point of view it’s a very special day. I am obviously looking for tomorrow. He (Alastair Cook) basically told me to enjoy the occasion,” he revealed.

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