"Even Shane Warne failed in India.."- Nasser Hussain on England spinners

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain is not particularly convinced with the spin options available in the England side, stating that it was the inexperience that led to the side picking four spinners in their XI. Team India returns to red-ball cricket as the five-match Test series against England commences in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The conditions are likely to be spin-friendly and the series will pose a tough test for the visiting batters and their Bazball strategy. The inexperienced spin lineup will also face a challenge as they take the field in the opening Test.

England have included three spinners in their Playing XI: Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Jack Leach. Only Leach has previously played in India in 2021. While Rehan Ahmed has only played one Test match last year in Pakistan, Tom Hartley is making his red ball debut for England. In addition, star batter Joe Root can also roll his arm over when required and has also taken a fifer against India in 2021.

“You look at other countries that try to hit India with spin historically. Shane Warne didn’t get that many wickets and that much success in India, be it against the Fab Five or a different Indian batting lineup,” Hussain told Sky Sports.

“I would like a more balanced bowling attack, but I guess with Rehan Ahmed’s second Test match… (he has) hardly debuted. Leach has not bowling for a long time, they feel they need three because looking at that surface… it’s going to turn.”

“Inexperience has led to the four spinners option as well. You’ve got Leach, who hasn’t bowled since June-July. You’ve got the two inexperienced lads in Hartley and Rehan Ahmed, and you’ve got Joe Root. You think if it would’ve been Swann or Panesar as an example, you could’ve gone with a more balanced side.”

England Is The Last Team To Beat India On Indian Soil In A Test Series

England was the last team to win a Test series against the hosts in India and that was back in 2012 when Sir Alastair Cook led the team to a 2-1 win. The English team in 2012 had two experienced spinners in the name of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar. Since the defeat against England in 2012, India has not lost any home Test series winning 16 consecutive Test Series at home.

England is expected to stick to their Bazball approach and they are likely to struggle when the pitch starts helping the spinners. The Indian team will be looking forward to winning the Test series and carrying on with their dominance at home in the red-ball format. England on the other hand would hope to repeat the performance of 2012 and break the Indian streak of home wins.

England skipper Ben Stokes has won the toss in the first Test and has elected to bat first. The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad is showing some pace and bounce at the start as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are getting some help from the track in their first spell.