IND vs ENG: Nasser Hussain Warns Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli To Be Careful Against English Spinners

Former England captain Nasser Hussain addressed the challenges for the Ben Stokes-led team in the five-match Test series in India. Nasser Hussain expressed his concern that England batters might struggle with their ‘Bazball’ approach on spin-friendly tracks in the series.

England adopted ‘Bazball’ under coach Brendon McCullum’s leadership. The Three Lions have not lost a series in their last seven Test series, securing victory in 13 of their past 18 red-ball matches. They drew the Ashes 2023 series at home, concluding with a 2-2 result.

There Has Been A Lot Of Talk About Indian Cricket – Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain expressed that Indian fans are eagerly waiting to witness Bazball in the upcoming Test series. Hussain mentioned that if India opts for spinning tracks, it could bring England’s spinners into the equation.

“India are waiting. There has been a lot of talk about Indian cricket, and there has been a lot of talk about Bazball, and the two of them are just about to meet. A lot of Indian fans are waiting to see Bazball and put it to bed,” Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket

“If the Indian management asked for good pitches that spin, then I think their spinners and batters will out-spin and out-bat ours. If they ask for pitches that are a bit of lottery, and it turns huge, then I think it brings England’s spinners into it as well,” Hussain added.

England has faced challenges in their recent matches in India, securing only one win in their last nine games in the country. England took a 1-0 lead in their previous series. However, India made a strong comeback, ultimately winning the series by a margin of 3-1.

In contrast to the previous series, England has opted for a spin-heavy strategy for the upcoming matches. The touring squad includes four frontline spinners, including Jack Leach and Rehand Ahmed, and two uncapped players, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir.

Then Joe Root Becomes England’s Most Important Player – Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain believes that Joe Root will play a crucial role for England, especially if the conditions favor spin bowling. Hussain also emphasized the importance of players like Duckett and Stokes, highlighting their proficiency against spin.

“If it spins, then Root becomes England’s most important player. Duckett as well, also Stokes is a magnificent player of spin and their mindset as well. As we saw in Pakistan, where different pitches, did not spin much at all. Low, slow, and they get 500 in a day or whatever. So, don’t expect what we saw last time where batters are just pushing and prodding.”

Joe Root is one of England’s premier players against spin. He showcased his prowess with a memorable double hundred during their victory in Chennai in 2021. He scored 952 runs in 20 innings at an average of 50.11, featuring two centuries and five fifties in India.

The first Test match between India and England is scheduled to commence on January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

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