England confident of positive result at Eden

Kolkata - England may have won the Mumbai Test convincingly on a turning pitch, but wicketkeeper batsman Jonathan Bairstow admits that their batsmen have to be on their toes against the hosts’ slow bowlers who would come back hard at the visitors in the Eden Gardens Test beginning Dec 5.

“Of course, we did well against the spinners, but they are world class and will come hard at us in the match. We will have to be on our toes facing them. However, with the momentum on our side we hope to do well,” Bairstow told mediapersons after his team’s first practice session at the Eden.

With skipper Alastair Cook and star batsman Kevin Pietersen in red hot form, Bairstow exuded confidence about doing well in the coming match.

“Cook and KP (Pietersen) have been playing really well which has given confidence to the rest of the team. It is an exciting time for our batters and we hope to get a positive result in the match,” said Bairstow.

Both Cook and Pietersen hit centuries in the Mumbai test, which England won by 10 wickets.

Bairstow, who has turned out for England in five Test matches, refused to comment on the Eden pitch which has been in the news after veteran curator Prabir Mukherjee lashed out at Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for demanding “a square turner from the first ball”.

England have won only one out of the nine Test matches they have played at the iconic ground and lost three. The remaining produced no result.

Having squared the series 1-1 with a convincing win over India at Mumbai, a relaxed and buoyant England team hit the nets Sunday.

Spinner Monty Panesar, who bowled his career best match figures of 11/210 in the Mumbai Test, was seen sending down deliveries under the expert eyes of bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.

Kent offspinner James Tredwell who joined the squad Saturday was also present at the nets.