Image Credit- Reuters
Test cricket action for Team India resumes on January
25 in Hyderabad with a thrilling five-match series against England. When the
visiting hitters take the pitch in the first Test on Thursday, they will have a
formidable challenge because to the expected spin-friendly weather and their
inexperienced spinner squad. For the opening game in Hyderabad, England has
selected three spinners in their XI: Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Jack Leach.
Of the three, only Leach has experience playing in India.
Hartley has not yet made his red ball debut for
England, while Ahmed has only played in one Test (last year in Pakistan). Star
hitter Joe Root is also capable of rolling his arm over when needed. Nasser
Hussain, a commentator and former England captain, wasn’t very impressed with
the spin alternatives available to England, claiming that the team’s decision
to select four spinners in their starting XI was due to inexperience.
“You look at other countries that try to hit India
with spin historically. Shane Warne didn’t get that many wickets and that much
success in India, be it against the Fab Five or a different Indian batting
lineup,” Hussain told Sky Sports.
“I would like a more balanced bowling attack, but
I guess with Rehan Ahmed’s second Test match… (he has) hardly debuted. Leach is
not bowling for a long time, they just feel they need three because looking at
that surface… it’s going to turn.
“Inexperience has led to the four spinners option as
well. You’ve got Leach, who hasn’t bowled since June-July. You’ve got the two
inexperienced lads in Hartley and Rehan Ahmed, and you’ve got Joe Root. You
think if it would’ve been Swann or Panesar as an example, you could’ve gone
with a more balanced side.”