Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has said India will have their chance to clinc the five-match Test series in England provided they win specific matches up north in the country, while also downplaying the strength of the host’s bowling attack.
Hayden, who was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame last week, said that the Shubman Gill-led Indian side will have a good chance of trumping Ben Stokes’ Bazballers should they win the opening Test in Headingley, starting June 20, and the Manchester Test, the fourth match of the series.
“I don’t think England bowlers are that good, they have got a number of injuries and a number of retirees as well, that will be the challenge,” Hayden said on JioHotstar.
“The northern Test matches when it’s zipping around that will be key, win that one and it could well be a series that goes India’s way,” he added.
England are facing an injury crisis in the lead-up to the series, with as many as three frontline quicks sidelined due to injury. While speedster Mark Wood was earlier ruled out of the first three Tests, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson were subsequently deemed unfit to start the series.
India’s batting order will also have its task cut out in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India batters Sanjay Manjrekar and Deep Dasgupta also said India could give England a stiff challenge in the bid to win their first Test series in the country since 2007.
“It is a young team, it has a young captain. The team is going through a transition so that will give England a slight advantage and they have the home advantage as well but it will be very close. I’d say 3-2 in favour of England,” Dasgupta said.
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“I think England have an edge. They are playing at home and the Indian team is going through a transitional phase so I think England might just pull this off,” remarked Manjrekar.
