Tuesday 29 July 2014 20:50, UK
Stuart Broad was pleased with the performance of England's bowlers on day three of the third Test against India.
The hosts worked hard to pick up seven wickets on a benign surface, leaving their opponents on 323-8 at the close at the Ageas Bowl in reply to England's mammoth total of 569-7 declared.
We'd have loved to have bowled them out today out to give ourselves a bit of a rest tomorrow, but I think it's still a really good batting wicket.
Broad claimed three of them himself, including removing Bhuvneshwar Kumar just before stumps to leave India still not certain of avoiding being asked to follow-on.
"I think we've had a good day," the Nottinghamshire paceman told Sky Sports.
"Obviously we set it up with the bat and had a huge amount of scoreboard pressure which always helps because if you bowl a slightly fuller ball that gets driven for four, you've got so many runs on the board to go again.
"Eight wickets, we're pretty happy with. We'd have loved to have bowled them out today out to give ourselves a bit of a rest tomorrow, but I think it's still a really good batting wicket.
"Hopefully, from our point of view, it'll (the wicket) deteriorate over the next two days and certainly day five maybe offer a bit down towards the stumps."
Yet while Alastair Cook could still yet have the chance to ask India to bat again, Broad doesn't expect his captain to make such a decision should the opportunity arise.
It still yet could be taken out of Cook's hands, with opposite number Mahendra Singh Dhoni unbeaten on 50 at stumps. He will hope tail-end duo Mohammed Shami and Pankaj Singh can help him reach 370 before India are bowled out.
"I'm not a fan of the follow-on. Even if you have a 20-to-30 over rest it gives the whole fielding unit and the bowlers just another umph to go again," Broad added.
"I wouldn't imagine we'd be looking to enforce the follow on. I think unless you've got a world-class spinner who can bowl one end for the second innings, the follow-on's a risky business."
