On magical Indian soil, England’s spin woes have come to the fore like never before. Former skipper Nasser Hussain, writing in the Daily Mail, paints a stark picture of a fledgling spin attack struggling to match the magic of India’s seasoned trio.
While acknowledging the unfairness of comparing inexperienced youngsters like Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley to the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, Nasser Hussain highlights the stark gap in control. India’s spin wizards weave webs of accuracy, even against England’s aggressive strokeplay.
Ahmed and Hartley, on the other hand, stumble through inconsistent lengths, leaving their captain, Ben Stokes, in a strategic quagmire.
“Full tosses and drag downs make it really hard for a captain,” Nasser Hussain writes. “While you know the odd ball will spin and bounce, you need both catchers and deep fielders, constantly shifting like sand dunes in a desert storm.”
Nasser Hussain questions Joe Root absence
The lack of control not only concedes boundaries but also gifts wickets, as England witnessed on Day 2. Nasser Hussain believes the team could have fared much worse if not for gifted dismissals and a needless run-out.
His solution? Ditch the four-pronged spin attack and bring back James Anderson, the “world great” with immense subcontinent experience. And don’t forget Joe Root, argues Hussain. “In these conditions, he’s one of your better options, arguably England’s best bowler yesterday. So why didn’t he bowl on Day 1, especially against Jaiswal?”
Nasser Hussain’s questions hang heavy in the air. Was Ben Stokes right to shield Tom Hartley even as India feasted on his inconsistent deliveries? Did England miss a trick by keeping Joe Root out of the attack, particularly against a vulnerable left-hander like Yashasvi Jaiswal?
With the Test poised on a knife’s edge, Hussain’s words serve as a wake-up call for England. Finding control, mastering the art of spin, and utilizing all their resources – that’s the recipe for survival in this Indian furnace. Whether Ben Stokes and his men heed the advice remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the battle for spin supremacy in Hyderabad has just begun.
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