NEW DELHI: Former England opener Michael Atherton predicted an India series win against England, pointing out that spinners will play a big part and the hosts have a better spin-heavy bowling attack.
The five-match series begins from January 25 in Hyderabad and the England team — currently sweating out at a training camp in Abu Dhabi — is scheduled to land in India on Monday.
India have R Ashwin leading the spin attack and veteran offie will be having the assistance of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel against the Englishmen
Atherton hailed the ‘very different’ India spin attack and went on to label Ashwin as one of the greatest of all time.
“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. India’s four spinners are very different to England’s. They have two left-arm finger spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. They have a wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners of all time,” Atherton said on Sky Sports.
“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,” Atherton added.
The last time India lost a series at home was in 2012 when England won 2-1.
The five-match series begins from January 25 in Hyderabad and the England team — currently sweating out at a training camp in Abu Dhabi — is scheduled to land in India on Monday.
India have R Ashwin leading the spin attack and veteran offie will be having the assistance of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel against the Englishmen
Atherton hailed the ‘very different’ India spin attack and went on to label Ashwin as one of the greatest of all time.
“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. India’s four spinners are very different to England’s. They have two left-arm finger spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. They have a wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners of all time,” Atherton said on Sky Sports.
“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,” Atherton added.
The last time India lost a series at home was in 2012 when England won 2-1.