Monty Panesar feels India may face a big challenge in the third Test in Leeds.
Veteran Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt doesn’t expect any drastic changes from the Indian cricket team for the third Test of the ongoing five-match Test series against England, starting from Wednesday (August 25) at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds.
Since the conditions at Headingley traditionally favor pace bowling, Butt believes that Team India might stick to the current combination, four pacers in Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammed Siraj with a spinning all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja for the third Test against England.
Butt said on his YouTube channel, “I don’t see India making any changes unless they want to rotate players and give someone else a chance. If there is some drastic change in the pitch, India can play an extra spinner or in case of an unfortunate injury also were might see some changes. Characteristically, the pitch at Leeds favors fast bowlers. If that remains the case, I don’t see India altering their line-up.”
However, the former Pakistan skipper feels India can bring in Ravichandran Ashwin in place of all-rounder Jadeja for the third Test since the latter has not been effective so far with the ball in England.
He further explained, “Maybe they might bring in Ashwin. Jadeja did not bowl that well in the previous game. He bowled reasonably but not as well as expected of him. Otherwise, I don’t see any drastic changes being made in the Indian team. The problem for England is that, if they prepare a pitch that spins, they will be in trouble. But even on surfaces that they are currently playing, which is favoring the fast bowlers, India is doing better than them.”
Meanwhile, former England spinner Monty Panesar admitted that India has played really outstanding cricket at Lord's, but they may face a big challenge in the third Test in Leeds as Headingley is the home ground of England captain Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, who play for Yorkshire.
But he said India is favorites to win the third Test at Headingley, Leeds if they continue to bowl as they did so far in the Test series and get Root out early as the English batters are struggling to counter Siraj.
Panesar told Times of India, “Headingley is the home ground for Joe Root and also Jonny Bairstow. India played really outstanding cricket in the Lord's Test, but they may face a big challenge in Headingley. If India continues to bowl like this, they will go on and win the series.”
He signed off by saying, “India are favorites to win the Headingley Test only if they get Joe Root out early. Siraj is the biggest difference for them. Siraj has made things difficult for England in the series so far. England batsmen are finding it difficult to read Siraj well.”