Punjab Kings bowling coach James Hopes firmly believes that Arshdeep Singh has the skill set to grab a spot in the Test squad for the upcoming England series. The left-arm pacer, who is yet to make his debut in the longest format of the game, has been consistent with his performances in white-ball cricket. With the team for the England tour set to be announced on May 24, the PBKS coach opines that both Arshdeep and Iyer deserve spots in the side.
Arshdeep is “highly skilled”
In an interview to Times of India, Hopes claimed that Arshdeep was perfectly suited for the English conditions. He explained that the pacer can swing the ball both ways while also bowl reverse swing when needed. Further, the PBKS coach claimed that Arshdeep was highly skilled and coachable, adding that he was open to learning new things.
“He is perfectly suited for English conditions. He can swing the ball both ways, he can bowl the reverse swing if required. He can bowl around the wicket as a left-armer seamer and still take it away from the right-hander,” Hopes explained.
Iyer ready for Test return
Further, the PBKS bowling coach threw his weight behind Shreyas Iyer to be included in the Test team. The PBKS captain last played in a Test for India in February 2024. Following that, he was snubbed from the BCCI Central Contracts and was subsequently left out of the Test side.
However, Shreyas has redeemed himself with consistent performances in domestic tournaments. He played in the Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy, SMAT and VHT.
“Shreyas is ready to get back into the Test arena. He’s worked hard on his game in the last 12 months. He uses his hands beautifully, which could be a real asset when you’re playing in England,” Hopes added.
