If India Don't Start Well Against England, They Will Be On The Backfoot Early - Brad Hogg On India's Chances To Reach WTC Final Again

Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has made early statements regarding the final of the second World Test Championship. The second edition of the WTC league kick-starts with the upcoming 5-Test series between India and England in England.

Brad Hogg opined that while India will roll over on their three home Test series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Australia, it is on their overseas tour – to England, South Africa, and Bangladesh – that they would be required to perform well in order to once again reach the final.

That starts with Joe Root’s side, against whom the former Aussie spinner reckoned Virat Kohli and co. will find difficult to win.

“India have 19 games, out of which they will need to win 13 games to get into the WTC final. They are playing western teams on their home soil where they have got a huge advantage. But away, England is where their nightmare could begin. If they don’t start well against England, they will be on the backfoot early and will have to catch up,” Brad Hogg stated.

Brad Hogg on what England should do to reach the WTC final:

England, on the other hand, have a much tougher road than India to reach the WTC final. They host three strong opponents in India, New Zealand, and South Africa, and will travel to Australia, West Indies, and Pakistan.

Brad Hogg contended that the possibility of England reaching the final would be laid bare in their first two Test series – at home versus India and away in Australia, during the Ashes in December-January. He asserted that England must dominate India, and win at least a couple of Tests Down Under in order to put themselves in a strong position for the final.

“England will play India and this is what I feel will decide their fate whether they will play the WTC final after two years or not.

“If they can dominate India, win four out of the five Test matches and not allow India to win, have a draw in the fifth Test, that sets them up perfectly. They then have to beat Australia at least twice on their home soil to have a chance of reaching the WTC final,” the 50-year-old former spinner concluded.

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