In a historic statement, Andy Flower is frightened more from Indian pacers than spinners ahead of Test Series

Former Zimbabwe cricketer, Andy Flower feels India is the favorite to win the series against England as their record in home conditions is phenomenal. India will host England for a five-match Test series starting on January 25 and it will be a clash between two unbeaten captains of their respective teams as neither Ben Stokes nor Rohit Sharma has lost a Test series as a captain. India has won 16 consecutive Test series at home since their defeat against England by 2-1 in 2012.

India is currently at the second position in the WTC table and the series against England will help them reach the top of the table overtaking the defending champions Australia. England was the last team to defeat India in India during the Test series in 2012 under the leadership of Alastair Cook. Since then India is yet to lose a Test series at home and England under Ben Stokes will be hoping to repeat the heroics of 2012.

Andy Flower is one of those who knows the England team pretty well as the former Zimbabwe cricketer coached the team between 2009 and 2014. Even today, he follows their fortunes and feels the upcoming Test series against India will be a fascinating one for England. Though spinners play an important role on Indian wickets, Flower believes the Indian pace attack can also be very lethal.

“I am really looking forward to the series since I have enjoyed watching the attacking cricket that England have been playing. It’s going to be exciting. But firstly, I would say don’t dismiss the Indian seamers and their attacking prowess because they are genuinely outstanding performers. They can pick up 20 wickets. It’s not only about the spin contest,” Andy Flower said.

Andy Flower Would Be Surprised If India Does Not Win The Series Against England

“I would be surprised if India doesn’t win the series because they are so good in home conditions and they have all the bases covered,” added the 55-year-old Andy Flower. India has a terrific record in Test cricket at home and they will be looking forward to clean sweep England in the upcoming five-match Test series. When England toured India in 2021, they started with a win but then lost three consecutive matches to lose the series.

The Indian Team also defeated England in the Test series in 2016 and gave them tough competition in England levelling the series 2-2. Both the teams have a lot of spin power in the squad with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav in the Indian squad and Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, and Tom Hartley in the England squad.

The pacers will also play a huge part according to Andy Flower and with the fifth Test being played at the Dharamsala, pacers may be important for both the teams. Some of the milestones are also on the verge of being achieved as Virat Kohli is just 152 runs away from being the fourth Indian batter to score 9000 runs in Test cricket whereas Ravichandran Ashwin needs only 10 wickets to complete 500 wickets in Test cricket.