England bowler Chris Woakes has asserted that the hosts are preparing with specific plans to stifle an in-form Rishabh Pant, who stole the show in the first Test with centuries in both the innings. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter roared back into Test cricket form at Headingley, coming up with one of his most calm performances in recent times.

Pant’s twin hundreds helped build India’s innings and he also overtook MS Dhoni as the Indian wicketkeeper with the most centuries in Tests. The thing that impressed was Pant’s maturity and restraint, particularly under pressure situations. Overheard on the stump mic, he even scolded himself for trying an adventurous shot when the team needed solidity.

In response to Pant’s heroics, Wookes acknowledged that players such as Pant add a special excitement to Test cricket. He intimated that the English camp would most certainly sit down to plan particular strategies to counter the left-hander in the coming Edgbaston Test.

Just after Woakes’ remarks, England announced an unchanged team for the second Test by deciding not to play Jofra Archer even though he was included in the squad. The comeback of Archer into the Test scene has been eagerly awaited, but the team has decided to maintain their winning lineup.

“Rishabh is a player with whom you do not really know what is coming next. He’s a player that keeps you on your toes sometimes exciting to bowl against, sometimes he puts you on the back foot as a bowler,” Woakes said in the pre-match press conference on Monday, June 30.

“It is always exciting to be part of the game when he is at the crease. He’s scored two hundreds in Headingley. Hopefully, we will get him earlier in this one. We (bowling group) have not met up yet but there will certainly be discussions around some of the players we came up against last week,” he added.