IND vs ENG: Not Ravichandran Ashwin Or Ravindra Jadeja!! Nasser Hussain Says Team India Need Someone Like Ben Stokes To Do Well In Away Tests

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has explained what Team India needs to do well in overseas Tests. While India have performed well in Australia and England in recent years, it won’t be wrong to state that performing consistently well outside the home, especially in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) is still a big concern.

India qualified for both the World Test Championship finals so far but their performance outside home has left a lot to be desired. Since 2019, they were whitewashed in New Zealand and lost the WTC final against the same opposition before suffering a 2-1 defeat in South Africa.

Last year, India also lost the one-off Test in England. And a couple of months ago, the Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a crushing 209-run loss against Australia in the WTC final. India’s performance in SENA countries has never really been up to the mark and the defeat in the WTC final in June this year has further highlighted it.

Nasser Hussain on what Team India needs:

As Team India’s constant struggle in Tests outside home continues, Nasser Hussain has stated that they need a seam-bowling allrounder like England’s Ben Stokes or Australia’s Cameron Green to become a challenging outfit.

The former cricketer-turned-commentator stated that India need an all-rounder who can bat well at No. six or seven in addition to having the ability to bowl 10-15 overs of genuine wicket-taking seam and swing. Nasser Hussain discussed the balance of India’s Test side with host Sanjana Ganesan in the recent episode of The ICC Review.

“They are brilliant at home…and the balance of their side at home is just wonderful. They have got senior players like Rohit and obviously Virat (Kohli) and they are just world-class players and they have got youngsters coming in, like Shubman (Gill), who is going to be a superstar,” said Nasser Hussain as quoted by ICC.

“If Jasprit (Bumrah) can come back as well, one of the great multi-format bowlers there is at the moment, if not the best, when fit. So, they have got those senior players and youngsters, and with the ball in India, those three all-rounders, and they are genuine all-rounders in India – Axar (Patel), (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Ravichandran) Ashwin. That, for me, is a really balanced side because then you have got a number 7,” he added.

Speaking further, Nasser Hussain talked about the balance of Team India when they play outside India in conditions where pacers get more support from the pitch.

“I was travelling with Ricky (Ponting) a lot during the Ashes, and he was texting Rishabh, and Rishabh was in the gym, and he was getting updates. He is a massive miss at the moment and hopefully, he will come back,” he said.

“It is away from home and the balance of the side and if they can get a seam bowling all-rounder. Hardik (Pandya) would have been perfect if Hardik had stayed fit and continued that process.

“An Indian cricketer at the moment, a (Ben) Stokes type cricketer, a Cameron Green type cricketer, a Mitchell Marsh type cricketer, a batter at No.6 or No.7, away from home, that can bowl you 10 or 15 overs of genuine wicket-taking seam and swing, not a bowler who bats a bit, a batter who can give you 10 overs of seam bowling, and then that balance away from home makes them formidable,” Nasser Hussain concluded.

Team India recently bounced back from the defeat in the WTC final by winning the series against West Indies. India’s next Test assignment is against South Africa. They will be visiting the African country in December for a two-Test series.