Harry Brook, England's vice-captain, says that his team's hopes of combatting India's spin bowlers in the first T20I were hampered by an unusual but familiar foe to English touring sides - a thick layer of smog hanging over the ground in Kolkata.

Harry Brook looked uncomfortable against the spin when spinners were operating and lost his wicket to Varun Chakravarthy.

Ahead of the second T20I against India, England batter and vice-captain Harry Brook placed blame on smog for his team's struggles against spin bowling, particularly Varun Chakravarthy during their loss in the first T20I at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

England’s Harry Brook has acknowledged the challenges he faced against spin in the first T20I against India, but also pointed to the “smog” in Kolkata as a factor in England’s underwhelming batting performance during their seven-wicket defeat.