Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg believes Team India is needed to play well during the upcoming five-match Test series in their bid to feature in the next World Test Championship Final. He feels if India don’t start well against England they will be on the back foot.
The upcoming Test series between England and India will mark the commencement of the second cycle of the World Test Championship. India will play three away Test series in England, South Africa and Bangladesh. On the other hand, their home assignments are against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
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India topped the points table in the last World Test Championship and played the final against New Zealand. However, they couldn’t cross the last hurdle as New Zealand won the final by eight wickets to win their first ICC title since 2000.
Hogg believes India’s nightmare can start in England and if they don’t win the series here, they will have to play the catch up for the rest of the WTC.
“India have 19 games, out of which they will need to win 13 games to get into the WTC final. They are playing western teams on their home soil where they have got a huge advantage. But away, England is where their nightmare could begin. If they don’t start well against England, they will be on the back foot early and will have to catch up,” said Hogg as quoted by Cricket Addictor.
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On the other hand, England’s road to World Test Championship Final will see many big teams. They will host India, New Zealand and South Africa while playing away series in Australia, West Indies and Pakistan. Hence, they will have to play out of their skin to secure the final berth of WTC in the next cycle.
Hogg feels England have slim chances against India and Australia.
“England will play India and this is what I feel will decide their fate whether they will play the WTC final after two years or not. If they can dominate India, win four out of the five-Test matches and not allow India to win, have a draw in the fifth Test, that sets them up perfectly. They then have to beat Australia at least twice on their home soil to have a chance of reaching the WTC final,” he Hogg.
The test series between England and India will begin on August 4 in Nottingham’s Trent Bridge.
