Nasser Hussain warns India against preparing pitches with excessive turn for upcoming Test series against England
The stage is set for a thrilling five-match Test series between India and England, with just nine days until the first ball is bowled in Hyderabad. From January 26th to March 11th, the cricketing giants will battle it out across five iconic venues- Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala.
India enters the upcoming Test series against England as hot favourites, boasting an undefeated streak stretching back over a decade. The last time an away side conquered Indian soil in the longest format was Alastair Cook’s England back in 2012. This historical weight adds an intriguing layer to the upcoming battle, with England aiming to crack the seemingly impenetrable fortress and India determined to maintain their dominant reign.
England’s arrival, however, throws a fascinating curveball into the mix. Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s reign, the English have adopted a bold, attacking “Bazball” style of Test cricket, tearing up the script and rewriting expectations. While Bazball will continue to be in the news, another factor which is hitting the headlines is India’s notorious spin havens. Their last visit in 2021 ended in a mauling, with Axar Patel and R Ashwin weaving a web of turn that left England clueless. As such, it remains to be seen if the visitors’ audacious approach will be able to crack India’s spin code.
Nasser Hussain lays out warning for India
Former England skipper, Nasser Hussain, has sounded a cautionary note for Team India before the Test series. While acknowledging the home team’s spin prowess, he urges them to avoid preparing excessively turning pitches. According to Hussain, well-balanced surfaces with decent spin would not only favor India’s strength but also prevent England from exploiting extreme conditions. He urged India to their batters and bowlers on a fair pitch, which will not give England a look in.
“I think what India should do is ask for good pitches that spin a bit because I think their spinners and batters will then out-bat and out-spin ours. If they ask for pitches that spin a lot then it becomes a bit of a lottery and brings England’s spinners into the game. The way Bazball goes about its business, they won’t die wondering,” he said while speaking to Sky Sports recently.
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