IND v ENG 2021: Nikhil Chopra says spinners Leach and Bess key for England in upcoming Tests

Jack leach and Dom Bess combined together to take 22 wickets against Sri Lanka.

Jack Leach and Dom Bess | Getty

Former Indian cricketer Nikhil Chopra feels that England spinners Jack Leach and Dom Bess will be key for the visitors in the upcoming Test series against India.

Jack leach and Dom Bess were one of the central figures behind England whitewashing Sri Lanka 2-0 away last month as both the spinners combined together to take 22 wickets in the two-match Test series.  

Addressing the same Former Indian cricketer Nikhil Chopra said that the way English spinners will bowl to the Indian batsmen will decide the series. 

"In my opinion, that's where the series will be decided - how the English spinners bowl to the Indian batsmen. If they complement their fast-bowling attack, England will compete, but if they fall apart, like many other spinners in the past, India will bulldoze their way to another Test series victory at home," Nikhil Chopra wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.

IND v ENG 2021: Monty Panesar picks Moeen Ali over Dom Bess as England's second spinner in 1st Test

Reflecting on Bess and Leach’s performance in Sri Lanka, Chopra said that English spinners will find it difficult against the Indian batsmen who have a far superior batting lineup than the Lankans.

"While Bess and Leach found success in the recently concluded series in Sri Lanka, it's probably safe to say they will be countering a more organized and competent attack from the Indian batsmen.

"The English spinners have their job cut out, for it's not easy to make changes to basic skill sets and tactics for an extended period, especially when you don't see tangible returns in the form of wickets - and it's more or less certain that Indian wickets aren't going to fall in heaps to the spin of Bess and Leach," he concluded. 

The four-match Test series between India and England will still start from 5th February. The first two Tests of the four-match Test series will be played in Chennai.

 
 

By Ankitjit Singh - 02 Feb, 2021

    Share Via