Eager to contribute to England’s success in the upcoming IND vs ENGTest series, left-arm spinner Tom Hartley draws parallels between his bowling style and that of Indian spin maestros Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. The 24-year-old, part of the 16-member squad for the five-Test series starting on January 25 in Hyderabad.
While acknowledging the risk England is taking by selecting him, Hartley believes in the uniqueness he brings to the team, including his towering height of 6ft 4, adding a different dimension to England’s bowling attack. He asserts, “My stats might not be the best in championship cricket, but I bowl very similar to Axar [Patel] and [Ravindra] Jadeja.” Hatley has just a modest first-class record of 40 wickets at 36.57 in 20 appearances.
Having participated in an England Lions training camp in Abu Dhabi recently, Hartley gains confidence ahead of the challenging series. Under the guidance of former England spinner Graeme Swann, he prepares to face formidable Indian batters such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. Emphasizing the need for simplicity during play, he plans to stay relaxed and minimize emotional responses.
Hartley recognizes the quality of India’s spinners but believes the conditions should be in his favour. He highlights the importance of keeping things simple and keeping the stumps in play.
England’s decision to include him in the squad reflects the expectation that he can adapt well to India’s spinning surfaces, similar to how Axar Patel troubled them during the 2021 Test tour. Hartley, along with fellow uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir, joins seasoned spinner Jack Leach and teenage all-rounder Rehan Ahmed in England’s spin department for the upcoming series.
