Let's Not Write Them Off Just Yet - Nasser Hussain Believes England Can Still Make A Comeback Against India

Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels that people shouldn’t write Joe Root’s team off in the series after a loss in the second Test. India won the Lord’s Test by a heavy 151-run margin to take a 1-0 series lead.

Many pundits reckon Virat Kohli’s side are going to annihilate the hosts in the upcoming three Tests and claim their first series in England since 2007. India were dominant in the first Test as well and stood a good chance to win had rain not played spoilsport on the last day in Nottingham.

England can’t win Tests with just one player in Root getting runs: Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain, however, opined that England can make a strong comeback in the series. After all, they were on top going into the final day at Lord’s, and gained further stronger hold with Rishabh Pant’s wicket, but squandered it when they allowed Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami to conjure an 89-run stand to take the game away from them.

But, England’s problems are much deeper than their bowling. Their batting barring Joe Root has been absolutely poor this year – as indicated by the fact that they were bowled out in less than 52 overs at Lord’s. While the skipper continues to racks up runs for fun – he already has two centuries in two Tests in this series – the rest of the batters have shown little support at the other end.

Nasser Hussain underlined that England are capable to get back to winning ways, but only if the rest of the batting line-up stands up.

“England did play a lot of good cricket at Lord’s, let’s not forget that. When Rishabh Pant was walking off on Monday we all thought it could be 1-0 to England. India do have frailties in their batting. But England can’t win Tests with just one player in Root getting runs,” the former skipper said.

“Robinson has been an incredible find when there have been so many injuries to bowlers. So let’s not write them off just yet, but they desperately need others to score runs,” he added.

England are likely to make changes in their line-up for the third Test at Headingley, starting August 25. Apart from Mark Wood’s injury concern, Root and coach Chris Silverwood will have changes in the batting department on their mind.

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