Our job is to put India under pressure: Alastair Cook

Insisting that his team is well prepared for the four-Test series, England captain Alastair Cook on Wednesday said that the visitors would be looking to put India under pressure when the two sides meet in their opening match in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

"There is always a lot of pressure on the home team but one thing we've seen is that they have an excellent home record. History shows that they've coped with that over the years. Our job is to put them under pressure," said Cook on the eve of the first Test.

"All through the tour we have said that we have wanted to get used to conditions. It is for the first time since I've been playing that we've had three practice games. We'd have liked to face more quality spinners but we can't control that. What we have had available, we've had some excellent bowlers in the nets," added the left handed opener.

Cook also said that his side was ready for the trial by India's spinners R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, besides senior bowler Harbhajan Singh.

"We're ready, that's the reason why we came here three weeks in advance. You're going to lose wickets no matter who is bowling, in any game, you can read what you want, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We can always deal with what is thrown at us," said Cook.

Cook admitted that he would not be able to say for sure about the pitch prepared for the game.

"Wickets change a lot in 24 or 48 hours. Yesterday, it looked quite dry and I've not had a look right now. The pitch has been re-laid and so there are not many statistics relevant to the wicket," said the captain.