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Nasser Hussain Questions Indian Bowlers’ Tactics After Headingley Defeat in Test Series Opener
By CricShots - Jul 1, 2025 4:00 pm
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Nasser Hussain didn’t hold back in his critique of Ravindra Jadeja’s underwhelming outing during the first Test at Headingley, where England pulled off a stunning 371-run chase. The former England captain admitted he was baffled by how long Jadeja took to adjust his plans on the final day, despite conditions offering him a decent opportunity to exploit the rough patches.

Team India
Team India

Jadeja managed just one wicket in the match, and his bowling lacked the bite typically associated with him, especially in overseas conditions where he has gradually built a reputation as a dependable spinner. In stark contrast, England’s Shoaib Bashir, still early in his career and heavily scrutinized, returned with three wickets and looked more threatening.

Nasser Hussain, writing in his Daily Mail column, pointed out how Ben Duckett handled Jadeja with ease, while Ben Stokes faced more discomfort once Jadeja belatedly adjusted his line.

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“I couldn’t believe how long it took him to make the change,” Nasser Hussain wrote. “The rough wasn’t massive, but it was there—wide and full. Still, Jadeja kept bowling straight, missing his best opportunity to trouble Duckett.”

Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain

He acknowledged the shift in Jadeja’s approach after the tea break when he bowled fuller and used the rough better against Stokes, but by then, England had already gained momentum.

With the second Test looming at Edgbaston, Nasser Hussain raised the possibility of India fielding a second spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. “Kuldeep might offer more balls to hit, but he gets bounce and turns it both ways. The real dilemma is—how do India get him in?” Hussain questioned.

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Dropping a seamer like Shardul Thakur, who struggled in both departments, seems the likeliest route. But it would mean sacrificing batting depth—a move the Indian team management will have to weigh carefully, especially trailing 0-1 in the five-Test series.