Graeme Swann Urges India to Play Kuldeep Yadav in Tests

Former England spinner Graeme Swann feels India would ‘be crackers’ not to play Kuldeep Yadav for the upcoming Test series between starting next month.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep single-handedly rattled the English batting in the first ODI at Trent Bridge. The left-arm spinner returned with outstanding figures of 6-25 from his 10 overs. The majority of the England batters failed to pick Kuldeep’s fierce spin and variations.

Swann has urged selectors to hand the 23-year-old his third Test cap in the upcoming five-match Test series.

“Kuldeep has bowled himself into the Test squad,” Swann told the BBC. “They’d be crackers not to put him in because the England batsman blatantly can’t pick him. Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes can’t pick him – Jos Buttler, who was strangled down the leg side off him, is the only one who can pick him,” he added.

The young spinner has so far played two Tests bagging nine wickets with the best figure of 4 for 40. Furthermore, it will be a huge opportunity for him bowling in challenging conditions.

England captain Eoin Morgan wasn’t one of Kuldeep’s six victims but accepted his teammates failed to play him well and that they will need to adapt their techniques when they next face the dangerous spinner.

“He (Kuldeep) is very good and there is no getting around that. He exposes an area of our game that we need to improve on and I think that is a good thing and a healthy thing,” Morgan said.

The one-day series now heads to London, with India seeking to wrap up the series with a victory in the next match on Saturday.

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