Nasser Hussain expressed surprise at England’s decision not to include James Anderson, their greatest bowler, in the Hyderabad Test, stating that he would have preferred Anderson for added control.
England faced a challenging second day at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, struggling to secure wickets as Indian batters built strong partnerships, extending their first-innings lead to 175 runs, reaching 421/7 in 110 overs by the end of the second day. Notably, all Indian batsmen, except Ravichandran Ashwin, made solid starts, with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja achieving half-centuries.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain questioned the team’s balance, expressing surprise at omitting James Anderson. Hussain, speaking on Sky Sports, emphasized Anderson’s control and suggested that a seam option, like Ollie Robinson, could have made a difference in altering England’s fortunes on the field.
“I said before the game, I would have played Anderson. I was a bit surprised at the balance of the side because with (Joe) Root in India, it is four spinners and one seamer. Anderson gives you control. It doesn’t even have to be him, it can be (Ollie) Robinson, just another seamer,” Hussain said.
“Anderson’s skills in the sub-continent has been exceptional in the last few years. Anderson is quite a good player when he is in the side. He is England’s greatest-ever bowler. I understood why they have done it. You’ve got Jack Leach who hasn’t bowled since May or June because of his stress fractures and then you have a debutant and someone playing in their second Test match. They may have been concerned about how much you can bowl Leach in that game. So, if you just go for the second spinner and they don’t get it right, you are left in a tricky position,” he added.
In 13 Tests played in India, James Anderson has secured 34 wickets at an average of 29.32, showcasing his effectiveness on subcontinental pitches.
Surprisingly, despite the presence of three specialist spinners, it was part-timer Joe Root who emerged as the most impactful bowler for England. England’s bowling coach, Jeetan Patel, praised Root’s ability to create opportunities, emphasizing his strategic thinking and attacking approach. Patel highlighted Root’s knack for asking challenging questions with his deliveries, acknowledging that while he might concede boundaries, Root’s attacking style proved to be fantastic and influential in changing the course of the game.
Last Updated on January 27, 2024
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