Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell believes that India has the best chance in this season to win two important away Test series in England and Australia.
India will play five-match Test series against the host England, starting from August 1, while they will play four-match bilateral Test series on the Australian soil from December 6. India has won only three times the Test series on the England soil, while India hasn’t won any Test series on the Australian soil till the date.
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However, Ian Chappell believes that the present Indian cricket team can win the rare two important away Test series during their tours in England and Australia respectively.
Chappell wrote about that in his recent column for the ESPNCricinfo, “There’s a rare opportunity beckoning for India – the chance to beat both England and Australia in away Test series. England are in a state of flux after a devastating loss at Lord’s and then a less-than-convincing win over the predictably inconsistent Pakistan at Headingley.”
Chappell has disappointed with recent England’s performances in the Test cricket. After suffering a thrashing and humiliating 4-0 defeat in the recent Ashes series (2017/18) in Australia, England suffered another 1-0 series defeat against the hosts New Zealand and recently drew a two-match home Test series against Pakistan by the 1-1 margin.
Speaking about England’s recent poor performances in longer formats, Chappell has specially pointed out Alastair Cook’s regular flop shows with the bats.
Chappell penned on that, “England’s top-order collapses are now a regular occurrence, which is not surprising when both opening positions are under a cloud. If it weren’t for the fact that Alastair Cook’s numerous partners have been under intense scrutiny, Cook himself would be in jeopardy.
“Two classic Cook double-centuries can’t mask the fact that in his last 29 Test innings – a period of 12 months – he has had 19 scores under 20, including ten single-figure dismissals. If an opener isn’t making centuries regularly then he has to ensure the opposition doesn’t get at the middle order while the ball is still new. Too often Cook is doing neither.”
Chappell also told about the recent debutant 20-year-old off-spinner Dom Bess. Chappell believes that Bess’ off-spin won’t threaten the Indian cricket team.
Chappell wrote on that, “Smith’s (Chairman of selectors Ed Smith) other notable choice in his selection debut was off-spinner Dom Bess, an energetic and effervescent cricketer.
“His batting and desire to be involved in the contest are laudable but the early signs are that his off-spin won’t threaten an Indian team bred on facing this type of bowler regularly. In one over at Headingley, Bess delivered more full tosses than R Ashwin offers up in a year, a prospect that players like Virat Kohli and M Vijay should be relishing.”
Chappell has also pointed out another issue in the English squad which is the lack of varieties in the pace bowling line-up.
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The 74-old wrote on that issue, “Apart from the openers’ batting, England’s other major problem on the tour of Australia and New Zealand was that the pace attack comprised all right-arm bowlers of similar speed.
“Their inability to unearth a genuine pace bowler is a greater problem when they are overseas, but if the late UK summer is hot and dry, they will also need someone who can shake things up on home pitches in an attempt to dramatically change the course of a game.
“There is no doubt that the swing bowling of Jimmy Anderson will present the Indian line-up with a serious challenge, and if there’s movement off the seam, Stuart Broad will also be a handful. Nevertheless India have the stronger batting line-up of the two teams and their variety in attack could help negate England’s middle-order strength if the openers continue to fail.”
