Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann on Wednesday (July 15) showered rich praise on Indian bowling attack, saying it has the capability to bowl out any side cheaply.
Swann was doing the commentary duties when India toured West Indies last year for two Tests. He saw the Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami wreaking havoc on the Caribbean batting line-up from the close quarters.
Bumrah, Ishant and Shami shared 33 out of the possible 40 wickets among them as India inflicted a 2-0 whitewash over West Indies.
"I thought it was incredible and I said at the time, this Indian team right now would bowl out any team in the world cheaply with this bowling attack. The way they're bowling right now, and I stand by that it's incredible," Swann said in a chat show on Sony Ten's Pit Stop.
West Indies lost both the Tests heavily but have now defeated England by four wickets in the Southampton Test when cricket resumed for the first time after a lengthy COVID-19 hiatus.
Swann felt England might not have watched the West Indies-India series in 2019 and also slammed the team management for dropping veteran pacer Stuart Broad, who is capable of doing the 'donkey's work' by complimenting James Anderson.
"England were playing the Ashes, they wouldn't have watched it. We were there and that was an Indian team, an Indian bowling attack in unbelievable form. Jasprit Bumrah was in incredible form in that series."
"I think England underestimated the West Indies, even subconsciously, and they picked the wrong team. England got their team selection wrong by dropping Stuart Broad. I will keep banging on about this. England blunted their whole bowling attack by not playing Stuart Broad," he said.
"I think he will forgive me for this, I'm not calling Stuart Broad a donkey, but remember, there is such a thing called donkey's work in a Test match. A fast bowler who can bowl 25 overs a day on the sport, never bowl a bad ball, day in day out, same pace — that is Stuart Broad. He is the foil for James Anderson," he further remarked.
In Southampton, England opted to go with two out-and-out pacers in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
"If you want to know how to beat anybody as an England team, you pick Stuart Broad and James Anderson, together. While they are still working, still walking, pick them together for goodness sake," Swann stated.
(With PTI inputs)
