Australian legendary pacer Glenn McGrath believes the experienced English pacer James Anderson is going to be the crucial player in the upcoming five-match Test series between the hosts England and the visitors India.
After the completion of the limited-overs series, where the visitors India won the three-match T20I series by 1-2 and the hosts England won the three-match ODI series by 2-1, both teams are now getting ready to play the lengthy Test series, starting from August 1.
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McGrath believes that Anderson is going to be ‘the player’ for the upcoming Test series. If Indian batsmen survive Anderson’s lethal swing bowling, then they can go on top of the series.
The former Australian pacer said, “Anderson is going to be a big player. It is how the Indian batsmen face his swing and bowling in English conditions. If they can get on top of Anderson, that is going to make a big difference for them. I think for them he is definitely going to be the key.”
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McGrath feels that the Indian bowlers are doing well in the recent times but he still believes that the batting is India’s strength.
The Aussie said, “It is going to be interesting. I think India started really well in England, obviously it is in the ODIs and T20s. The batting line-up has always been their strength. Just heard about injuries to (Jasprit) Bumrah and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar). So it will be interesting to see their bowling line-up, to see who comes in and takes the load.
“In recent times they have been bowling really well. Injuries do happen, it is going to make it a little tougher. But their strength is their batting.”
McGrath also said the Indian spinners doing well. The former Aussie pacer has also revealed that the legendary Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne loved to bowl in England.
McGrath said, “Spinners have done well for India. Shane Warne loved bowling there. He always said if it seamed, it will turn. In English conditions it does seam a bit and Warne has had success there. India is going to need their bowlers, their spinners firing if they have to win the series.”
While McGrath believes that India can go with two spinners in upcoming Test matches, he also feels that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah’s unavailability creates the hole in the bowling line-up.
The former Aussie pacer said, “Having two spinners in the line-up, if that is going to be the best bowling attack it is fine. I am interested to see who are bowlers that they have. (Umesh) Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, who’s your backup quicks going in.
“With Bhuvi and Bumrah out, it creates a bit of a hole. The first Test is going to be pretty important.”
The Aussie has claimed that the tall Indian pacer Ishant Sharma’s huge experiences can make huge differences in this upcoming Test series.
The 48-year-old said, “He (Ishant) has got a lot of experience. And, that sort of makes a big difference when you know how to get wickets. He is not probably bowling as quick as when he first started. Have to see if he has the same wicket-taking potential as what he had when he first started. Yadav has got a bit of pace. They need him for the whole series.
“… Obviously spinners are always pretty handy. But medium-pacers and quick bowlers in England, if you bowl well, with the Duke ball and in those conditions, it is going to be…”
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While McGrath has a faith on the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, he also believes that it is a little bit tougher for Kohli where the ball moves.
McGrath said, “For Virat, he has done everywhere else, but in England… He is a quality player without a doubt, a class act, has got all the shots. He is quite aggressive and not a timid player. It is time he shows that he can score runs in English conditions too.
“It is a little bit tougher with the ball moving around. Australia used to be quick, bouncy whereas in England it is seam movement. If he can adapt and adjust to the conditions, he can score. When he is playing well he is as good as anyone going around.”
