Michael Atherton, ex-captain of England, predicts India will triumph in the approaching five-Test series at home.
The former cricketer, now commentator, doesn’t think England’s spinners can match the skill of India’s spin team: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Key fact – India has a home ground advantage, winning 16 back-to-back Test series since a 2-1 defeat to England in 2012. This streak includes outstanding victories over England – 4-0 and 3-1 in the 2016-17 and 2020-21 series correspondingly.
Michael Atherton just disclosed to Sky Sports:
“I think India will win. Their spinners are better than England’s, and that will be the defining thing in the end. If you go to India, spin will play a big part. It historically has done, and I suspect it always will do. India do have a very strong seam attack as well.”
Michael Atherton
In the 2020-21 Test series, which India won 3-1, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel excelled. They claimed 32 and 27 wickets respectively. Ashwin, especially, has excelled against England, taking 88 wickets in 19 Tests. A mere 10 more and he’ll have 500 Test wickets total. The off-spinner is quite the achiever.
“It will be a particular challenge for them” – Michael Atherton on England spinners
Jack Leach, England’s left-arm spinner, is a talented spinner, according to Michael Atherton, while the other three are inexperienced:
“England have a solid left-arm spinner in Jack Leach and then three very inexperienced spinners after that with Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed.”It will be a particular challenge for them but the selectors see a high ceiling for them.”
Michael Atherton
For those who don’t know, during England’s most recent Test series in India, Jack Leach took 18 wickets in four Test matches. He’ll be hoping to carry on his ball-handling prowess over the forthcoming five-match Test series.
Rehan Ahmed was one standout, nabbing seven victories in one Test while England toured Pakistan in 2022-23. In contrast, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir are still on the sidelines, waiting for their first Test debut.
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will host the first Test match starting on January 25.