Bhuvneshwar Kumar Should Be Called Up For England Series, Even If He Can Play Two Or Three Tests - Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain strongly feels that India should call up senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 5-Test series against Joe Root’s team, starting August 4 in Trent Bridge.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed the 2018 England Test tour due to an injury, has been omitted from the ongoing tour for the WTC Final versus New Zealand and the following Test series against England. It is believed that the seamer isn’t fit enough yet for the longest format, however, he will tour Sri Lanka for the ODI and T20I series in the capacity of vice-captain of the side.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 19 wickets in 5 Tests on England shores at 26.63, with the help of a couple of five-wicket hauls including 6/82 in the Lord’s Test win in 2014.

The conditions will suit him: Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain asserted that the condition in England will be conducive to Kumar’s swing-type bowling. That is something which, he believes, India missed in their three-pronged pace attack – of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami – in the WTC Final, which they lost. The Indian bowlers were daylight behind the Kiwi counterparts in terms of swing movement extracted.

Nasser Hussain understands that Bhuvneshwar is having injury issues; he says that India would make the seamer play in 2-3 Tests if not the entire series, and they will “greatly benefit” from him.

“Bhuvneshwar should be called up for the England series. Though he has injury concerns, even if he can play two or three Tests for India, the team will greatly benefit. The conditions will suit him and we all saw how the team is missing a genuine swing bowler,” Nasser Hussain said on air during Day 3 of the WTC final at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl.

The Test squad in England has been given a break before they begin their preparation for the Test series. The white-ball side, captained by Shikhar Dhawan, will take the field on July 13 for the first ODI in Colombo.

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