Former England skipper Nasser Hussain reckons Bazball against Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will be fascinating in 2024. England will play five Test matches in the Indian conditions and their new aggressive approach will be tested against quality spin bowling.
The Three Lions have savored great success with Bazball under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. The English team has won 13 out of the 18 matches under McCullum, while losing four and drawing one.
England recently drew the Ashes against arch-rivals Australia by 2-2 and showed their potency in the second half of the series.
Meanwhile, England suffered a 3-1 loss against India in their previous tour of the country in 2021. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel were the chief destroyers as they bagged a total of 59 wickets among themselves.
On the other hand, Jack Leach is expected to return for the India tour after missing the Ashes due to injury. Leach had scalped 18 wickets in four Test matches in 2021 in Indian conditions.
Hussain feels England has the players, who can help them win in the tough conditions.
“Jack Leach will (hopefully) be back and Rehan Ahmed is a very good second spinner, as we saw in Pakistan,” Nasser told The ICC. “Josh Tongue has bowled really well. Ollie Robinson is a very skillful bowler. Unfortunately, someone like Olly Stone is injured and obviously, Jofra Archer is injured.
“You need that extra pace as well in India. So England have got…they’ve got that lad (Gus) Atkinson at Surrey, who has a lot of good things being said about him.”
The former England captain admitted the Ben Stokes-led team will have their work cut out against India while playing in spin-friendly conditions.
“England have options. It’s the next Test for Bazball. They said Bazball will work against one side, then they moved on to the next side. Then they moved on to New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan. The next challenge is India and everyone knows India in India is one of the sternest challenges in Test match cricket,” Nasser said.
“It’s Bazball against spin. Bazball against Ravi Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja and Axar Patel and that is going to be fascinating.”
India will host England for five Test matches, starting January 25 in 2024. Hyderabad, Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala will be the venues for the Test matches.
