IND VS ENG: Former England captain Naseer Hussain feels that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli cannot play swing in England in the built-up for the upcoming fourth Test at Oval. He stressed that Kohli is getting out in the familiar manner as he is not sure whether to play or to leave.
“He [Kohli] did go through a spell on the third day, admittedly against an older ball, where he was leaving it well. But it’s harder to leave the new ball because it swings later, and he was out again on Saturday in a familiar manner.,” Hussain wrote in his latest column for Dailymail.
However, he did decode the Indian captain’s problem against England pacers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson.
“Kohli has played at balls he could be leaving, he seems to have that slight technical issue I highlighted in these pages with the positioning of his back foot and he is not picking up the line of Anderson and Robinson. He is not sure whether to play or leave and whether to set himself for the inswinger or not. He doesn’t know what to do. It’s high-class bowling and it’s not going to get any easier for him,” Hussain added.
IND VS ENG: Naseer Hussain hits India with a bouncer, ‘Virat Kohli’s team can’t play swing’
Notably, Kohli has been dismissed twice to James Anderson and Ollie Robinson. The India skipper has managed just 124 runs in three Test matches. Clearly, Kohli is having a terrible time in the English conditions in the ongoing England tour. He has edged the outside off stump ball for 5th time in the series and has been dismissed in a similar fashion during all of his outings. It is evident that Kohli is all exposed to the seamers now. A genuine fast bowler targets the outside off spot, tames Kohli, makes him feel terrible and finally outplays him.
He failed to convert his fifty into hundred as his century drought in international cricket has surpassed 50+ innings. He needs to quickly find solutions to play against Anderson and Robinson if India wants to stage a comeback after losing the third test by innings and 76 runs.
Hussain also reminded England not to sit on their laurels. He mentioned India’s famous fightback after they got bowled out for just 36 runs in Adelaide going on to win the series 2-1.
“Remember, they were bowled out for 36 by Australia in Adelaide late last year but came back to pull off a famous series win. India do have a lot of strength of character and fight, and central to that is their captain,” Hussain further wrote.
The Test series between India and England is currently tied at 1-1. The fourth Test will kick off on September 2 at Oval, London.
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