• India v England, 1st Test, Ahmedabad, 2nd day

Patel demands more aggression from batsmen

File photo: Samit Patel will be aggressive when he gets to bat (ESPN is not carrying live pictures due to curbs on the media) © PA Photos

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Samit Patel believes England's batsmen need to "front up" and show they can stay at the crease as long as their Indian counterparts after a chastening day in Ahmedabad.

The tourists fell to 41-3 at the close of play in the first Test, after India chose to declare late in the day after reaching 521 for eight.

Cheteshwar Pujara starred for the hosts with an unbeaten innings of 206 but England's top order failed to replicate that longevity - with Nick Compton, James Anderson and Jonathan Trott all unable to reach double figures before being ousted towards the end of the day's play.

Opener Alastair Cook remains at the crease, however, with Kevin Pietersen supporting him going into day three - and Patel believes those two and the batsmen still to come need to take the fight to their opponents and show that the conditions do not faze them.

"We knew it was going to be tough, these are the conditions and they are used to the conditions," Patel said. "We have to front up.

"We have two world-class batsmen at the crease and we have Belly [Ian Bell], myself, Matty P [Matt Prior]. We have a lot of batting.

"There is no question how long we can bat and we have the potential to bat as long as India. We have got to keep believing that."

Patel insisted that England's players never expected it to be easy against India, and maintains that the whole team knows they must improve their individual performances if they are to get anything from the Test - or the series.

"We are going to have to play some good cricket," he added. "It will be hard work, but it is Test cricket and that's what it is about.

"We can't be defensive out here. We have to let the bowler know we are not just there to survive."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.