‘Stint in County helped at Eden’

KOLKATA: The rigours of international cricket have taken a toll on their bodies but on a lively deck and in conditions not usual to the sub-continent, Cheteshwar Pujara and Angelo Mathews played innings that have left their imprint on the first Test at Eden Gardens between India and Sri Lanka. Both made 52. “Experience helps you handle such situations,” said Mathews, 30. Speaking after the Sri Lankan, Pujara added that time spent in the county circuit this year had helped. “It made me play on many challenging wickets and that improved my game,” said Pujara, 29. “You can’t worry about what happened in the last ball because you are bound to get good balls in every over. You also have to stay positive and wait for the loose ball. It’s not easy,” said Mathews.

It took the ball of the match so far to dismiss Pujara. “Such conditions, especially with so many interruptions, are a test of character. I think I batted well apart from that particular delivery which surprised me with the amount of deviation,” said Pujara, talking about the ball from Lahiru Gamage that clipped his off-stump.

The sheen got taken off Mathews’ innings somewhat when he was caught at shortcover by KL Rahul. “Maybe, it (the delivery) stopped a little but no excuses, I was trying to score,” said Mathews. That said Mathews felt he and Lahiru Thirimanne should have gone for “a big one”.

Both felt the wicket tested batsmen’s skills. “On the first day, it was seaming; today (Saturday) it was swinging and seaming. Batsmen had to fight it out. There is still a lot left in the wicket for pacers,” said Mathews.

That Mathews was making a comeback from a calf muscle injury made it more difficult.

“It is not easy to get into a rhythm. It’s been quite a frustrating year for me because of injuries. I think it is taking a toll on my body from 2013,” said Mathews.