India vs England 2021: Darren Gough Advices England Pacers To Attack The Stumps
Photo: Getty Images

Former England pacer Darren Gough has advised the England pacers to attack the stumps and use the new ball well ahead of the upcoming four-match Test series against India. The pitches are generally flat in India and spinners tend to be very effective which makes it a tough case for England who is renowned for swing bowling. India has lost only one Test at home since their series 1-2 loss in 2012 against England which shows the amount of dominance India has had in the home conditions.

The likes of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have exploited the home conditions really well to their advantage in the years and the touring batsman has found it really hard to cope with them. England’s previous tour in India in 2016 for a five-match test series resulted in the favour of India who won the series 4-0 convincingly. England pacers will have to know the line and lengths if they have to play a role in India pitches before the series starts.

Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer. (Credits: IPL)

“I Am A Huge Fan Of Bumrah” – Darren Gough

Darren Gough had admitted that he is a huge fan of Bumrah because of his action hard to pick and the natural variation he possesses. He expects to be a big tour for Archer who has played only IPL in Indian conditions while he added that Stokes can be a wicket-taking bowler. He wanted Broad and Anderson to start the first test based on their current form and also that the two bowlers have taken 1000 wickets between them which is not an easy task by any means.

Read More  Watch: 'Virat Kohli's RCB haven't won anything' - Gautam Gambhir's war-declaring video breaks internet

“I am a huge fan of Bumrah. He is hard to pick because of his action and the angle that he creates. He also has a natural variation and that makes him lethal. Ishant has reinvented himself and bowls in the right areas which makes him a wicket-taker while Siraj has a huge heart.”

“For England, it will be a massive tour for Archer. Due to his IPL experience, he knows where to bowl on Indian pitches and it will hold him in good stead. Stokes is a clever bowler and England should use him as a wicket-taker.

“Broad and Anderson have 1000 wickets between them and you don’t need to teach them anything new. In fact, given Broad and Anderson’s form, England should play them both in the first Test and go with two spinners. From the second Test, England can look at playing three spinners,” Darren Gough told TOI.

Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Stuart Broad and James Anderson. (Credits: Twitter)

“If You Are Bowling At The Stumps, You Also Need To Get The Field Right ” – Darren Gough

Since the ball doesn’t swing or seam mostly in India apart from the new ball, Gough advised attacking the stumps with fieldset accordingly will reap benefits. He also told that Gill and Rohit won’t sit back and leave deliveries a lot, which England can use to their advantage by bowling at the off-stump but added that it won’t work against the likes of  Pujara, Kohli, or Rahane who don’t mind taking the time.

“England need to use the new ball well and attack the stumps as the ball is not going to swing and seam much. Sharma and (Shubman) Gill though tend to chase the off-stump deliveries so you might try your luck there. But Kohli, Pujara and (Ajinkya) Rahane will bat time so there is no point in frustrating them by bowling the off-stump line.”

 If you are bowling at the stumps, you also need to get the field right. Otherwise, you may go for runs. Once the ball gets old, you can bowl back of length, hit the pitch hard and vary your pace,” Darren Gough added.

Read More  USA Squad for T20 World Cup 2024 announced, Corey Anderson features, Unmukt Chand goes missing

darren gough
Darren gough[Image: Getty]
Darren Gough has represented England in 58 tests, 159 ODIs, and 2 T20is taking 229, 235, and 3 wickets respectively.