"Ben’s strokeful 70 may well be a match-winning knock": England's opener Ben Duckett

England captain Ben Stokes hits out during his entertaining 70 against India yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

The ball turned, albeit slowly, but that was enough for the Indian spinners to pin down England on Day One of the first Test here on Thursday.

Ben Duckett, the left-handed opener, who put on 55 for the first wicket with Zak Crawley, felt it was a tricky first day wicket. "It was a tricky Day One pitch, consistent spin from earlier on. [Ben] Stokes was fantastic. I just said come Day 3, Day 4, that [70 off 88 balls] could be a match-winning knock if that pitch keeps getting harder to bat on," said the England batter who scored 35 before being trapped leg before by R Ashwin.

Also Read: Yashasvi has taken to Test cricket like a fish to water, says veteran Ashwin

The England batter said due credit should be given to Indian batters, particularly Yashasvi Jaiswal (76 batting): "They've played really well tonight and when we're very attacking (with the ball)"

Ducket came out in support of debutant Tom Hartley despite the left-arm spinner giving away 63 runs in nine overs. "We backed Tommy," Duckett, underlining how he nearly got Shubman Gill at the fag end of the day. "We were not quite sure how that's gonna miss the stumps. But I thought he came back really well," said Duckett of Hartley.