England Faces Stern Test Against India in January 2024
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that the next challenge for the Bazballing England team is their upcoming series against India in India. England managed to draw the Ashes 2023 series against Australia, displaying impressive performances despite being down 0-2 after the first two Test matches. If it weren’t for a rain-curtailed draw in the fourth Test, England could have potentially won the series.
Hussain, speaking via the ICC Review, highlighted the spinning tracks in India as the ultimate test for the England side. Under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, England has shown remarkable improvement in the last 12 months. Now, they face the daunting task of playing against spinners like Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel in India.
It’s Bazball against spin. Bazball against Ravi Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja, and Axar Patel, and that is going to be fascinating, Hussain remarked.
England recently bid farewell to veteran pacer Stuart Broad, who retired from Test cricket during the final match of the Ashes series at The Oval. With Broad’s absence, Hussain emphasized the need for the experience of James Anderson during the upcoming India tour.
I think especially with (Stuart) Broad going, I would like that experience (in India), Hussain stated.
However, it seems England might also miss the services of Chris Woakes, who prefers to play Test matches only at home. Hussain acknowledged Woakes’ record away from home and his potential unavailability for the India tour.
Chris Woakes has stated that he’s not that keen anymore on playing away from home, and his record’s not great away from home, Hussain noted.
While considering the challenges awaiting England in India, Hussain’s perspective adds an interesting dynamic to the upcoming series. The team has displayed resilience and determination, but the spinning tracks and the absence of key players like Broad and potentially Woakes could make their journey even more complicated.
The England cricket team will need to adapt to the different conditions and find effective ways to counter the spinners in India. With the series scheduled to start in January 2024, fans eagerly await the thrilling battle between England and India on the cricket field.
