Nasser Hussain Urges Joe Denly To Modify His Technique; Suggests To Look Up To Ben Stokes And Virat Kohli

Former English captain Nasser Hussain has a piece of advice for England number three Test batsman Joe Denly. It comes after Joe Denly’s dismissal in the first innings of the ongoing first Test between England and West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. England folded for 204 on the second day while the visiting captain Jason Holder starred with six wickets.

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Seamer Shannon Gabriel claimed the first wicket of Joe Denly on the second day after he triggered a mini-revival along with Rory Burns post Dom Sibley’s departure for a duck on the first day. Gabriel’s delivery breached past the big gap between the pad and bat of the Kent batsman for 18, eroding the off-stump. The right-handed batsman faced 58 deliveries.

Nasser Hussain has suggested Denly to learn from Ben Stokes, who moulded his technique despite having an outstanding previous year. As a stand-in-captain for the first, Stokes top-scored for the home side with 43 while keeper-batsman Jos Buttler was the next best with 35.

“Perhaps he can look at the example of his captain in this game. Ben Stokes has clearly tinkered with his technique, despite having the year of his life in 2019,” the Chennai-born said as quoted by Times of India.

Hussain pointed out the 29-year old all-rounder has opened up his stance and has got a huge trigger movement across stumps towards the offside. The cricketer-turned-commentator was not sure what urged Stokes to do it; however, he lauded the move.

“He has opened up his stance and has got a big trigger movement across his stumps towards the off side. I’m not sure why he has done it, but it shows even when you are in form you can always improve your alignment,”

“Joe Denly has to believe that a tweak can be made” : Nasser Hussain

The 52-year old also iterated Indian captain Virat Kohli’s example, recalling how massive an improvement he caused in 2018 as opposed to 2014. Hussain said that in 2014, Kohli kept getting an edge off James Anderson; however, in 2018, the right-handed batsman tackled the ball before it swung much. The 31-year old made a century in India’s first innings of the first Test in Birmingham.

Hence, Nasser believes that the 34-year old must believe that the technique could be altered. In his 15-Test career so far, Joe Denly has six half-centuries alongside a highest of 94 that came against Australia in 2019 at the Oval. While he has helped England to take the shine off the new ball and weathering the storm, a notable score has always deprived him.

“Another example is Virat Kohli. When he came to England in 2014, he kept nicking Jimmy Anderson. Two summers ago, he stood further outside his crease and intercepted the ball before it had a chance to swing as much. The result was that superb century at Edgbaston. Denly has to believe that a tweak can be made, even while he accepts the risks that come with it,” the 96-Test veteran added.

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