ENG vs IND: England Is In Front Because They Have Been Playing Test Cricket - Shane Watson

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson said England is a better side in their upcoming clash against India in the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham.

England are coming fresh from drubbing New Zealand 3-0 to kick off on a high note under the new era of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. For the first time in the history of Test cricket, a team chased 250-plus targets in three successive games – 277 at Lord’s, 299 at Trent Bridge and 296 at Headingley.

England targets to square the series

England faces a new challenge as they will look to level the five-match series against India with a win to make it 2-2. India were leading 2-1 before the Covid-19 cases in the visitors’ contingent postponed the final Test in Manchester last year in September.

England have got the jumpstart a bit: Shane Watson

India will be without the services of their key players like KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma for the series-decider match. Rahul is unavailable for the England tour because he travelled to Germany for his recent surgery and Rohit was ruled out of the one-off Test after contracting Covid-19 in multiple tests in the last week.

“India, with Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid’s come in (as coach), it’s a lot more even now. But for me, England’s in front, just because they have been playing Test cricket. They have played incredibly well against New Zealand. I think England have got the jumpstart a bit.” Watson said on ‘The ICC Review Show.’

“There’s no question that India have got an incredible Test team. But they are going to go in a little bit underdone, playing a lot of T20 and one-day cricket over the last three to four months. Test cricket-wise, the bowlers in particular, their workload and everything, it’s going to take a little bit of time for their bodies to get used to that.

Before that last Test match got put off by nearly a year, India were dominating and England were starting to really taper off at the time. Now, the way things have shifted with what we have seen with England, the whole captain and coach thing – their dynamic has moved their cricket forward so quickly,” he added. 

The rescheduled fifth Test between England and India will take place at the Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Shardul Thakur Has Done Good Job But India Should Have Included Hardik Pandya In Test Squad – Harbhajan Singh