Nasser Hussain hails Tom Hartley for proving doubters wrong with spectacular bowling in 1st Test

England left-arm spinner Tom Hartley ripped through the Indian batting order during the first Test of the five-match series. The debutant picked up a total of nine wickets in the whole match and played an important role in England’s 28-run victory over India. Hartley went for a lot of runs during the first innings but as soon as the wicket went slow on the fourth day he picked up 7 wickets.

India were given a target of 231 runs to chase down in the fourth innings, however, it looks like the absence of Virat Kohli has hurt Indian cricket, and their batting lineup was exposed by the England spinners. Former England captain Nasser Hussain while speaking to Sky Sports, believed that England registered a remarkable win against India. Hussain also lauded Ollie Pope’s knock and believed that it was a remarkable innings.

Speaking further in the conversation Nasser Hussain also praised England captain Ben Stokes and spinner Tom Hartley. As per Hussain, Stokes used Hartley pretty well and the credit also goes to Hartley for the way he was able to settle down his nerves and deliver such as great performance.

Nasser Hussain praises Ben Stokes and Tom Hartley

"Stokes always backs his man, but the credit has to go to the man himself" 🏏

Nasser Hussain reacts to Tom Hartley's stellar seven wickets on his Test debut as England beat India 👏 pic.twitter.com/6FVeqv14nu

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 28, 2024

Nasser Hussain said, “Incredible Test match, in fact, a couple of incredible Test matches overnight. West Indies winning by eight runs at the Gabba, and England pulling off a remarkable victory. The 190-run deficit in the first innings against India with one of the best spinners in the opposition.

“Pope plays one of the most remarkable innings we have ever witnessed. Tom Hartley who struggled in the first innings and his skipper Stokes backed him to the hill, delivered today’s seven-fer. An amazing turnaround by England, they go 1-0 in Hyderabad and Stokes and McCullum and their regime continue to thrill.”

“Absolutely, I think you forget the nerves, the pressure, to step up to understand a Test match debut. When you are off the field forget how much you are under pressure and the nerves get to you. In first innings he didn’t particularly bowl well, his variation in length, disappointed him.

“I think the way Stokes kept him on when others kept him off. Stokes always backs his man but the credit has to go to Hartley. In the Test match when the whole world is talking about you and saying are you a Test match player, the second time around he bowled the way you are and the way he did, is not just the ability to play international cricket it is about the mental strength that Hartley has shown.”

The Indian cricket team slumped to the fifth spot in the World Test Championship 2023-25 rankings and now will aim to regain their lost momentum in the second Test match. The Indian team was never in a position to lose the match in the first three days and had kept their hold on the match. However, Ollie Pope’s innings proved to be a game-changer in the match and also took the game away from the hosts.