Got an idea about England attack: Pujara

Mumbai: Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday said he has got much needed measure of the England attack after batting for over four hours for India A in the warm up game, ahead of the Test series.

Pujara, who is certain to bat in the middle-order, scored a patient 87 during the warm up game against the visitors. "I was looking forward for this match to get some runs so that I get some practice before the Test series. I have not faced many of England`?s bowlers in the past. "I wanted to get a look at their action, what are their strengths, what kind of things they would come up against me and what kind of strategy they will have," Pujara said. Asked about England bowlers` struggle, Pujara said things would be different in the Tests. Pujara and Hiken Shah (batting 84) tested the England attack with a a 163-runs stand for the third wicket. "The wicket was on the slower side. I was very comfortable against all the bowlers. I can get a little bit of idea but it won`t be the same in the Test match because intensity will be on the higher side. Even in fielding they were not quite up to the mark it will be much better in the Test match," said the 24-year-old Saurashtra batsman who has played five Tests. "But it?s going to be a challenging series. This is just a practice game and we don?t want to underestimate England and I hope the way we were batting in this game continues in the Tests and we have more partnerships. "Important thing about our partnership was the left-right combination. Initially we were slow in scoring but once we got our eye in we were playing our shots and later on it became a bit easier," he said. Pujara, dropped by James Anderson at slip on 22, said it was a genuine catch off Monty Panesar, the left arm spinner. "Panesar was getting some bite and bowling in the right areas. There was a bit of help in the wicket. He was utilizing the conditions well. My job was to hang around and capitalize on the loose balls. It was a genuine catch," he said. There was some turn on the wicket, he said, at the end of the day. "Some balls were turning from the rough but those bowled on stumps were not turning much. Later on towards the end of the day it was turning a bit," said Pujara after Mumbai A had scored 232 for 4 at stumps in reply to England?s 345 for nine declared. Panesar said, "Pujara is an accumulator of runs plays a patient game. He is a very organized cricketer." Asked if the batsman reminded him of retired Test stalwart Rahul Dravid, Panesar smiled and said "not quite the same." Panesar said the team will need to go to Ahmedabad before seeing what kind of conditions awaited them and finalise the first Test eleven. "Pitch in the Mumbai region is red clay. We have to go to Ahmedabad and see what kind of soil is and what kind of conditions we are presented with there." Asked about the hard toil of the England bowlers today, he said they were trying out various options but Pujara and Hiken Shah played well. "They played well but it was not easy for them either. We were trying all options keeping the ball dry at one end and get the ball to reverse. He said the warm-up games will help him get ready to slip into the eleven when a chance comes by. "For me, these warm-up games will make me ready whenever an opportunity presents itself," he said. PTI