A few respected names in English cricket have been severely critical of the Chepauk pitch but England’s spin consultant, Jeetan Patel, isn’t offering that as an excuse.

“It’s just cricket in different parts of the world,” said Patel. “I think everyone coming to the subcontinent knows that it’s going to spin.

“In Sri Lanka, the ball spun from ball one. We understand that as a playing group, but maybe it’s an educational thing for someone outside the group.

“This one accelerated a bit quickly, but we are playing in the subcontinent... Just like teams come to England or go to other places in the world, where it seams around for too long,” the former New Zealand off-spinner added.

The other Patel — India left-arm spinner Axar — too made a valid point about the wicket. “I don’t think any of the balls hit the helmet. We’re playing on the same track and scoring runs, so I don’t think anyone should have any problem with the wicket.

“Besides, when we go overseas, we never complain while playing on seaming tracks,” Axar said.

Scorecard

India

1st innings 329

England

1st innings 134

India

2nd innings (overnight 54/1)

R. Sharma st Foakes b Leach 26

C. Pujara run out 7

V. Kohli lbw Ali 62

R. Pant st Foakes b Leach 8

A. Rahane c Pope b Ali 10

A. Patel lbw Ali 7

R. Ashwin b Stone 106

K. Yadav lbw Ali 3

I. Sharma c Stone b Leach 7

Md Siraj not out 16

Extras: (b-5, lb-15) 20

Total: (all out 85.5 overs) 286

Fall of wickets: 2/55, 3/55, 4/65, 5/86, 6/106, 7/202, 8/210, 9/237

Bowling: Stone 6.5-1-21-1, Leach 33-6-100-4, Ali 32-7-98-4, Root 4-0-15-0. Broad 9-3-25-0, Lawrence 1-0-7-0

England

2nd innings

R. Burns c Kohli b Ashwin 25

D. Sibley lbw Patel 3

D. Lawrence batting 19

J. Leach c R. Sharma b Patel 0

J. Root batting 2

Extras: (b-4) 4

Total: (3 wickets, 19 overs) 53

Fall of wickets: 1/17, 2/49, 3/50

Bowling: Ishant 2-1-6-0, Patel 9-3-15-2, Ashwin 8-1-28-1