New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes India may have a powerful likelihood of profitable the upcoming Take a look at collection in opposition to England if they’ll clinch the video games in Leeds and Manchester, however South African tempo nice Dale Steyn has backed the hosts to triumph 3-2 within the five-match contest.
India and England kick off their new World Take a look at Championship cycle with the five-match collection, beginning with the primary recreation in Leeds on Friday. Manchester will host the fourth Take a look at from July 23.
“I do not assume England bowlers are that good, they’ve numerous accidents and numerous retirees as properly, that would be the problem,” Hayden mentioned on ‘JioHotstar’.
“The northern Take a look at matches when it is zipping round that might be key, win that one and it may properly be a collection that goes India’s method,” he added.
Since India’s final pink ball tour of England, the hosts’ two most skilled bowlers — James Anderson and Stuart Broad — have bid adieu to worldwide cricket.
Moreover, England’s bowling arsenal can be significantly depleted, with speedster Mark Wooden dominated out of no less than the primary three Checks because of harm.
Fellow fast Jofra Archer may also miss the opening recreation, and Gus Atkinson is constant to recuperate from a hamstring pressure.
India, in the meantime, will take the sphere underneath new captain Shubman Gill, ushering in a recent period following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R Ashwin.
With a youthful batting line-up and restricted red-ball publicity in current months, the guests will face a stern problem.
Steyn did not write India off however backed England to assert the trophy.
“It’s a fairly younger group. Most likely going to say that England are going to win the collection however it’s not going to come back with out a struggle. I really feel like there are going to be one or two Checks that India will take themselves.”
“All video games might be shut. However each recreation may have a consequence. I believe it is going to be 3-2 in favour of England. However even that might be extremely tough.”
Former India cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Sanjay Manjrekar additionally backed England to clinch the rechristened Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, however agreed the collection can be a intently fought affair.
“It’s a younger group , it has a younger captain. The group goes by way of a transition so that can give England a slight benefit and so they have the house benefit as properly however it (the collection) might be very shut. I might say 3-2 in favour of England,” Dasgupta mentioned.
Manjrekar echoed the sentiment: “I believe England have an edge. They’re taking part in at house and the Indian group goes by way of a transitional part so I believe England would possibly simply pull this off.”
