Zak Crawley retains hope of turning around third Test: "I don't think it's going to require a miracle"

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England may have recorded their lowest first innings score in India but it won't take a miracle to turn the third Test in Ahmedabad around, according to Zak Crawley.

The Kent batsman top-scored with 53 as the tourists were skittled for just 112 after winning the toss on day one.

Despite the pink ball being tipped to savour the seamers, spinners Axar Patel (6-38) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3-26) dominated an uncertain England line-up, who were perplexed by conditions.

Though India captain Virat Kohli (27) was dismissed before the close, the hosts are 99 for 3 and will only trail by 13 runs come the start of day two.

Bar Rohit Sharma, who sits on 57 not out, Crawley was the only batsman able to conquer the surroundings with a punchy half-century.

On just nine occasions have England scored fewer than 112 in their first innings of a Test and gone on to win. Two of those instances came in 2019, against Ireland at Lord's and Australia at Headingley. But Crawley can see a path to victory.

"I don't think it's going to require a miracle, to be honest," said the 23-year-old, who would not be drawn on the DRS incidents which saw England complain about the use of technology on two occasions.

"Batting on this pitch is going to be extremely difficult and if we bowl well tomorrow and get a nice 100-150-run lead then we've got a great chance. 

"Obviously we're going to need a lot of things to go our way and we're going to have to play extremely well but we're capable of doing it with the side we've got.

He added: "Absolutely there is a way back. Any sort of lead on that wicket and we've got a chance in the fourth innings. That's the way we're looking at it."

Image courtesy of BCCI