Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has added that England have not included a specialist spinner in their playing XI for the fifth Test as well. He also shared that Harry Brook is one of their part-time slow-bowling options. However, the final Test of the five-match series between India and England will take place at The Oval from Thursday, July 31.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “From the spin point of view, we will definitely play two spinners, and there are discussions that we might play the third as well, but the opposing team does not have even one spinner. So Jacob Bethell’s left-arm spin, Joe Root’s little off-spin, and Harry Brook’s little right-arm filth. This is what is going to happen. We were only told that if we score runs against Brook, do we consider them runs. We didn’t say it. You said it. You only said that he is a ‘ghatiya’ bowler. You said that he is filth. So, we are saying right-arm filth. That is Harry Brook. I am trying to align myself with your thought process.”
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However, Aakash Chopra shared that England have changed a lot in their entire bowling attack.
“Ben Stokes isn’t in the team England have announced. Ben Stokes has been ruled out. The guy is injured. Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue, which means the entire bowling lineup has been changed. Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer are all not there. If you had to change everything, you could have made them bowl in the last 15 overs. Then why were you saying that you couldn’t have bowled them as it’s a quick turnaround? You have changed the entire bowling attack,” Chopra shared.
“Just one guy is left, and he is Chris Woakes, who has played all the matches. His performance has also been very ordinary. With both bat and ball, his performance has been very, very middling in this series. Gus Atkinson has got the pace. Jamie Overton has got the height. Josh Tongue hits the deck hard,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
