Ben Stokes wants England spinners to leak runs claims Monty Panesar

England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss in Hyderabad and has elected to bat first. The team has gambled on many fronts by picking three spinners for the first Test against India. They are expecting the pitch to turn square from Day 1. James Anderson, the world’s leading wicket-taker among all pacers couldn’t find a spot in the XI.

With Ben Stokes not bowling, the team only has four specialist bowlers with Joe Root as a part-time spinner being the only other option. Above all, only one of the three spinners has previously played in India.

India is missing the services of Virat Kohli who has opted out of the first two Tests due to personal reasons. However, with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer present in the squad, the hosts have ample players who love to deal with boundaries, especially against the spinners.

There are high chances that the Indian batters won’t let the inexperienced England spin attack settle. However, Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes that Ben Stokes won’t mind that.

The former left-arm spinner said England would want India to attack Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartely and give their wicket away. Tom Hartley is making his debut in this match and Rehan Ahmed has only played one Test match in his career before this.

“Ben Stokes would invite the Indian batters to hit them for sixes. He’ll be of the mind, ‘Yeah, try and put them out of the attack. These are young spinners. They’re supposed to go and play county cricket and earn these stripes. But we’re picking them on mere potential. Go after them, I’m going to put the fielders in.”

“Everything’s in your favor.’ If they get whacked, maybe he’ll tweak the field just a little bit, and then it’ll be up to the Indian batsmen: do they fall for the bait or do they knock it around for a little bit and wait for the fielders to come inside again? A cat and mouse game,” Panesar told The Indian Express.

Monty Panesar Explains Ben Stokes’ Bazball Mentality With The Ball

Monty Panesar said that the Bazball mentality is not just restricted to their attacking style of batting but they have the same mentality with the ball. England has never lost a Test series since the start of Bazball. Panesar explained what Ben Stokes would want from the young spinners.

“What Ben Stokes would want from the young spinners is to take 5/100 in 20, even 16 overs. He wouldn’t mind them going for 100 runs. But do that and take those wickets in 20 instead of 40 overs. I reckon that’ll be the Bazball mentality with the ball,” he added.

India has been completely dominant in red-ball cricket at home and they have won 16 consecutive Test series since their loss against England in 2012. Ben Stokes elected to bat first in the first Test but after a good 50+ partnership, England started crumbling as the Indian spinners came onto the attack.

Ravichandran Ashwin started the dismissals as he took Ben Duckett’s wicket. Ravindra Jadeja has also spun his way to get Ollie Pope out and Ashwin sent back Zak Crawley to the pavilion for his second wicket.

Ben Stokes and Rohit Sharma both are undefeated as skippers in the Test series and one of them will have their streak broken in this series. The first Test win will boost the confidence of the skipper and it will be a huge advantage going further in the series.