Last Update on: July 26th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg opined Rohit Sharma will “have a few issues” when he will come up against James Andeson, Stuart Broad, and other English pacers while opening the batting to the Dukes ball in the upcoming Test series against the hosts.
He pointed out Rohit Sharma’s starkly contrasting numbers in Test cricket at home and away: the opener averages a staggering 79.52 at home, while away his average plummets to a mediocre 27.27. In England, it gets even worse to 24.50, although he has played just a couple of Tests in the country.
However, Rohit Sharma looked comfortably in the WTC final versus New Zealand. He got starts in both the innings – 34 and 30 – but couldn’t convert it into a big knock.
Brad Hogg said he would be left surprised if the right-hander makes any big impact in the English summer.
“He Rohit Sharma is in India, he averages 79 (in Tests). But when he goes away, he only averages 27. Then we go to England, it even gets worse – it’s just 24. I think he is going to have a few issues against the likes of Broad and Anderson, especially opening the batting against the Duke ball. I will be very surprised if he has a big impact in this series,” Brad Hogg said in his YouTube video.
I think this will define Rohit Sharma as a Test cricketer: Brad Hogg
The former chinaman further stated that the England Test series may well be the defining series of Rohit Sharma’s Test career, as, despite his great record at home, the away numbers in Test cricket will bug the opener.
Hogg pointed out that the Indian team has been in England for a long time now and has acclimatized with the conditions. Hence, he believed, this is the best time for Rohit Sharma to score runs in an overseas series.
“We all know how good he (Rohit) is and this has been one of the kryptonite in his game at Test level, performing away from India. England probably for an Indian batsman, has the hardest conditions to adjust to. He has had plenty of time over there so if he is going to do it, it has got to be this time. I think this will define him as a Test cricketer,” the 50-year-old concluded.
