India bowlers tried their socks off but didn't get much help from the wicket: Dawid Malan

Playing his first Test in over three years, England batsman Dawid Malan scored a crucial 70, coming in at No. 3 and put on 139 for th third wicket with Joe Root.  While acknowledging that the Indian bowlers did not get much assistance, Malan said that the Indian bowlers ran in and tried extremely hard. 

"The wicket changed massively from the first day the first hour when they were batting," the 33-year-old Malan said in a virtual press conference after the end of second day's play.

"I would not say they were flat with their bowling. They absolutely ran in and tried their socks off. They asked a lot of questions probably didnt get that much help from the wicket," the left-hander said.

India's most experienced player Ishant Sharma bowled 22 wicketless overs, whole Mohammed Shami finished with three wickets at the end of Day Two. England took a massive 345-run lead after bowling India out for a paltry 78, thanks to Root's 121. 

Speaking of Root, Malan said, "He scores runs all the time, and with the ease and the speed with which he does it is quite fantastic. He has led from the front again as he has done in the Test series so far, all credit goes to him," Malan said showering praise on his skipper."He moves his feet so well, the ball position where he hits the ball is so good. He hits the ball so much late than most people, he always looks to score.

Calling him one of the greats of the game, Malan said: "If you bowl a bad ball, he just puts you away. If you look at all the greats who played, if you miss your length they hurt you and Joe is one of those. It's great to watch from the other end." 

'Committed to playing in the IPL'

"The only guarantee we have at the moment is IPL -- we don't know if we're going to the World Cup and we don't know if we're going to the Ashes, so it leaves us in quite a tough situation," Malan said.

"I think all possibilities but at the moment I'm committed to the IPL. Yeah, that's where I am at the moment. Nothing sort of changed at the moment, maybe we can reassess."

"Say you give up the IPL and you don't get picked for either of the England squads, then you've given up the IPL. There is no guarantees at the moment, it (Ashes) is still a long way to go. There is five innings left in the Test series so far," he said.

The dashing left-hander, who was recalled at No. 3 after England promoted Haseeb Hameed to open in place of the dropped Dom Sibley, hoped that his dilemma would be resolved soon.

"...or if you go to IPL and then you get selected after you've gone to IPL, then you're sat in the bubble for five-and-a-half months. Hopefully, we can get some answers and we can find some time to get a rest out of these bubbles."