Former England skipper Nasser Hussain while talking about England’s rotation policy said that Rishabh Pant scoring a match-winning hundred for India in Ahmedabad while Jos Buttler, a player with similar abilities, resting for the white-ball matches doesn't look right for England cricket.
Following England’s humiliating Test series defeat against India, their rotation policy has been in talks for a while now.
Many Pundits across the globe have criticized England Cricket Board (ECB) for rotating players in the middle of the Test series against India and feel that the policy was one of the main reasons behind England’s defeat.
Writing In his column for the Daily Mail, former England skipper Nasser Hussain said that England’s biggest problem has been their hectic schedule and not the rotation policy.
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"England's biggest problem has not been selection or rest and rotation. It is a schedule that has given them 17 Tests, iconic tours of India and Australia, the Twenty20 World Cup and two IPLs in little more than a year. That is ridiculous," Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for Daily Mail.
Hussain admitted that he understands the intention behind the rotation policy. However, he also argued that this series wasn't the right time to put it in action because it didn't give England the best chance to compete.
"So I agree with and understand the ECB looking after their players. They have a duty of care to them and they have done the right thing in having a policy that considers their mental health.
“But the issue is when you rotate and, as I've said before, this would not have been the time to rotate for me. In golfing terms, a Test series in India is one of your majors. England did not give themselves the best chance to compete by rotating now," he said.
However, as a part of rotation policy wicketkeeper-batsman, Jos Buttler was sent back to England after the completion of the first Test and was kept fresh for upcoming white-ball fixtures.
While on the other hand Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant slammed a match-winning ton in the fourth Test match.
Referring to the same, Hussain said Rishabh Pant scoring a match-winning hundred for India in Ahmedabad while Jos Buttler, a player capable of doing the same, being rested for the white-ball matches doesn't look right for England cricket.
"Rishabh Pant smashing it all around Ahmedabad while Jos Buttler — an England player capable of doing the same thing — is sitting in a hotel room in the same city, being rested ahead of the white-ball matches, just doesn't look right," he said.
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Hussain further said that England has to take the responsibility for their decisions.
"Don't get me wrong. Every reason a player has missed any part of this winter's cricket has been a very valid one. But every decision you make as a player has repercussions down the line. They do have to take responsibility for their decisions," he concluded.
England will now lock horns against India in five T20Is and three ODIs, and it is expected that a full-strength side will take the field.
(Daily Mail inputs)
