Former India captain Anil Kumble feels that young England spinners Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley will face a tough challenge against the star-studded Indian batting line-up when the two teams square off in the first Test, starting Thursday in Hyderabad. The visitors named their Playing XI on the eve of the series opener with Mark Wood being the only pacer alongside three frontline spinners and a part-timer in Joe Root.
Tom Hartley, a left-arm finger-spinner, is set to debut on Thursday while Ahmed will make his second appearance for England in the longest format of the game. They will share the spin-bowling responsibilities with experienced Jack Leach. Since Stokes has already ruled himself out from bowling in the series, Wood will have to make the red ball talk.
Kumble has termed England’s bowling attack for the opening match as “highly inexperienced”. The England skipper may face some trouble finding the right balance but the former leg-spinner said it will be interesting to see how the visitors approach the 2-month-long series.
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“It will all depend on how Jack Leach leads the spin attack. Three spinners, of course, the English management obviously have had a look at the pitch and they believe that it’s going to take turn,” Kumble replied to a PTI query during an interaction organised by Jio Cinema.
“In that sense, just with one fast bowler in that lineup, it’ll be interesting to see how they go about because I certainly thought that once Harry Brook was unavailable, they had the choice to go with Jonny Bairstow as the keeper and then bring in another fast bowler.
“They brought in Ben Foakes, which means that he will keep with just that one fast bowler. We don’t know how much of bowling Ben Stokes is going to do, it’ll be interesting to see how they go about but (it is a) highly inexperienced bowling lineup,” Kumble said.
Kumble said the likes of Hartley and Ahmed will face a challenging time in the series.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge for those young spinners, especially Rehan and Hartley to build pressure on this wonderful Indian batting lineup.”
Kumble predicted the Anthony de Mello Trophy to be going India’s way.
“I’m not a guy with a crystal ball but I can certainly see India winning the series. I am thinking all five (Tests) would provide results because of the approach that these two teams have towards Test cricket,” he said.
“Unless and until weather intervenes, all five Test matches would have results. I would give one to England and four to India,” he added.
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