England captain Ben Stokes admits he was taken aback by the condition of the pitch in Ranchi ahead of the fourth Test against India.
Stokes claims he has 'never seen something like that before' as the tourists attempt to bounce back from two successive defeats.
England arrived in Ranchi this week off the back of the bruising 434-run loss in Rajkot, their biggest ever in terms of runs away from home.
Victory for India this week will secure the series victory after they lost the opener in dramatic fashion in Hyderabad.
England captain Ben Stokes was taken aback by the state of the pitch for the fourth India Test
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England were dealt a harsh lesson last week and know they have to up their game to have a chance of levelling up at 2-2.
They will be boosted by the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested by India for this match.
But it appears the pitch in Ranchi could be weighted heavily in favour of the spinners.
Stokes took a look at the surface on Wednesday, two days out from the first ball being bowled on Friday.
And he admits he was surprised by the condition, saying: "It looked interesting, didn't it? I don't know. I can't say much.
"I've never seen something like that before so I have got no idea. I don't know what could happen.
"If you looked down one side of opposite ends it just looked different to what I am used to seeing, especially out in India.
"It looked green and grassy up in the changing rooms, but then you go out there, it looked different. Very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks in it."
England could revert back to playing just one frontline seam bowler if the pitch is as spin-friendly as it seems.
Stokes also confirmed he could be in contention to bowl for the first time since last summer's second Ashes Test at Lord's.
He said: "My knee itself was absolutely fine today bowling. It was just good to push past that 20-minute barrier, which is what I've been working around at the moment.
"It might be a bit stiff but we'll wait and see. It is the longest I have bowled in six months so let's see how everything pulls up."
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Ben Stokes could bowl for England in the fourth Test against India
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Mark Wood and Jimmy Anderson may both be rested, with Ollie Robinson in line for a first appearance of the series.
Stokes has paid tribute to the Sussex bowler's attitude while waiting for his chance.
He said: "I think he has worked incredibly hard while he has been out here. And it is tough for someone like Ollie, who's played such a big part in the game over the last two years, where he has not taken part in a game and the stuff he has done away from the game itself has been very good.
"I told him today he has been a great example of doing the right things and waiting your turn if it comes.
England are hoping to bounce back from two defeats in a row against India
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"Not playing the first three Tests can be tough and disappointing.
"But the way he has cracked on and got his fitness stuff in and not let disappointment get in the way of a potential chance that might come in this series.
"He's got unbelievable skills to be a successful bowler anywhere in the world. What we've seen in England is he's very skilful, but we've seen more than that in Pakistan.
"It's similar but different here, but the skill he possesses, he can find any movement, and his release point is always going to be dangerous."
