As the excitement for the upcoming 4th Test match between England and India to be played at the Oval from September 2nd reaches its peak, former England captain Michael Vaughan and former Australia opener Mark Waugh took to Twitter to opine on the visitor’s chances of coming back.
India started off the series well after the first Test at Nottingham was drawn due to rain washing out the fifth day. Then Virat Kohli and co, routed England on day five in an epic performance to win the second Test match at Lord’s by 151 runs, defending 272-run target and bowling out England for 120 in under 60 overs.
However that high of the win came down pretty fast, as England bounced back strongly in the third Test match at Leeds, crushing the visitors by an innings and 76 runs on the fourth day and leveled the series 1-1.
As the caravan moves to the historic Oval ground in London where the fourth Test begins on September 2nd, Michael Vaughan and Mark Waugh shared their opinions on whether India can bounce back in the series and their thoughts had one common element.
That common element was India’s chances of winning the fourth Test match could increase multifold if they include ace off-spinner R Ashwin in their playing XI.
Ashwin has been warming the bench for the first three Tests as India preferred the better batting abilities of Ravindra Jadeja as the all-rounder in the team as they went in with four fast bowlers. But Jadeja has managed just 2 wickets in the three Tests, after going wicketless in the first two encounters.
This has led to several experts encouraging Virat Kohli and India team management to include R Ashwin in the playing XI for the Oval Test where the pitch assists spinners and said that both Jadeja and Ashwin can play here.
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Michael Vaughan said that India can become stronger if they play R Ashwin at the Oval, but backed England to win the Test. He also said that this series reminds him of the 2014 India tour of England, where the first Test was drawn, the second Test at Lord’s was won by India, but then England won the remaining three Tests to pocket series 3-1.
Vaughan tweeted, “Time to get down to the Oval !! Weather set fair for the week … England stronger this week I reckon .. India also stronger if @ashwinravi99 plays .. England to win though .. This tour has a 2014 feel to it .. #ENGvIND”
Meanwhile, Mark Waugh tipped India to bounce back, especially if they include R Ashwin in their team, and tweeted, “I’m tipping India to bounce back at the oval if they pick the right team which must include Ashwin.”
