It’s up to the ICC, and not the players, to decide whether the tricky Motera pitch was suitable for Test cricket, England captain Joe Root said after his team’s 10-wicket loss, but added that players need to counter whatever is thrown at them.

“This surface was a very challenging and difficult one to play on. But it’s not for the players to decide whether it is fit or not. That is up to the ICC,” said Root, who wore a disconsolate look in spite of his five-wicket haul for the first time ever in first-class cricket on Thursday.

“As players, though, we’re going to try and counter what is in front of us.”

Asked whether the ICC should take over pitches since it was conducting the World Test Championship, the England captain replied: “Again, that’s something the ICC will look at and that’s the decision it will have to make.

“There’s always going to be a slight home advantage. But the decision is there for the ICC to make.”

Root obviously rued England’s missed opportunity, especially after they bundled India out for a paltry 145 in the first session of the day.

“In hindsight, had we got 200, that would have been a very good score on that wicket and the game would’ve looked completely different,” he said.