Former England captain Nasser Hussain has applauded the current England men’s team following their stunning win in the first Test against India in Hyderabad. The veteran also lauded them for sticking to their philosophy and doubling down on it when many doubted it as well. However, England turned the table after playing not so well in the first two days of the Test, including conceding a 190-run lead. Ollie Pope’s century helped England’s fightback as they scored well over four runs an over to set a target of 231 as well. Tom Hartley then took seven wickets to seal the deal.
In his column for Sky Sports, Hussain added, “What I like about them is their stubbornness. If you doubt them, they’ll double down on it and go even more stubborn. I think that is a good thing because if you’re constantly listening to all the noise, all that’s written and said, you flicker from one theory to another. The present regime know what they want. They’re going to stick with that and even when they’re behind, they will back the cricketers to turn it around. They have shown they are a side not to be messed with.”
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However, Hartley’s selection came under the scanner after he failed to do well in the opening essay in Hyderabad. He was welcomed by Yashasvi Jaiswal who smashed him for two sixes in his very first over in Test cricket. The left-arm spinner also struggled with his consistency, conceding 131 from 25 for his two wickets. But Ben Stokes stuck with Hartley and he delivered a seven-wicket haul in the second innings to help his side win by 28 runs.
“India will probably rue their first innings. They got 436 but actually they could have got a lot more if not for some sloppy dismissals. They will come back. They are a very fine side and history tells you it will be tough for England here. But it is a wake-up call for India as England have shown Bazball can work in these conditions,” Nasser Hussain concluded.
The second Test will begin on February 2 in Vishakhapatnam.
