India-England Test series is round the corner. Both sides are definitely tough fighters and have enough big names in their ranks.
But considering, India are playing in home, where they have mostly dominated in recent years, they therefore hold the edge. It's a fact, India are hard to beat at home in Test cricket.
In man to man comparison too, Team India appear to be bit well balanced. The hosts also seem to be a better unit as a team. Their core Test team members have been around together for some time. They gel and complement each other very well.
The biggest USP of the present Indian Test team, is its spin department. Seasoned spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are world class performers. They are supported very well by Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and even the young spin talents, whoever is picked. On turning Indian tracks, they are expected to dominate not-so experienced English batters this time.
With such a situation in the offing, England's recent ultra-attacking batting strategy, which is widely called 'Bazball' is likely to backfire, fear many cricket experts.
The latest to join that list is former England captain Nasser Hussein, who believes, the Indian team will have the upper hand against the visitors.
India's seasoned spinners will make merry against England's battlers. The Indian fans would be eager to see how the Rohit Sharma-led side can put England’s ultra-attacking Bazball strategy to bed when the five-match Test series begins on January 25 in Hyderabad, Hussein remarked recently.
As per statistics, England last won a Test series in India 12 years ago, where Alastair Cook was the captain and spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar played leading roles in the 2-1 triumph.
Interestingly, during the 2021 tour, England had won the opening Test in Chennai, but lost next three games to lose series 3-1.
Led by all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has been out of action for a long period due to injury, England have left-arm turner Jack Leach, teenaged leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, f left-arm spinner Tom Hartley and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in their line-up. But they are no match to Indian spin treasure, feel experts.
Several English veterans fear that England with their ultra-aggressive batting approach during India Test series, may not succeed. Because they argue Indian spin-twins Ashwin-Jadeja combine, is too experienced to demolish any batting side in the subcontinent tracks.
Baring Joe Root, England this time does not have someone like Alistar Cook or Kevin Pietersen, to counter India's formidable bowling attack, former England players have cautioned.
With such a scenario, England must resort to the traditional wait and play mode of old Test cricket than the extra-ordinary aggressive approach, they feel.
