Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said that England may exclude James Anderson and Mark Wood from the upcoming match. Aakash Chopra described the Ranchi pitch as progressively slower and lacking bounce, indicating limited support for fast bowlers.
England, trailing 1-2 in the series, must secure victory in the penultimate game to stay in contention for an overall series win. England initially opted for a single-pace bowler in the first two matches, and they fielded both Anderson and Wood in the third Test match.
This Pitch Doesn’t Have Bounce And Pace – Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that England could rest both Anderson and Wood due to the slow nature of the Ranchi pitch. Chopra suggested the possibility of England fielding two new bowlers in their place for the next match.
“The Ranchi pitch is a black-soil pitch and it keeps getting slow, slower, slowest. This pitch doesn’t have bounce and pace. So there won’t be much help for fast bowlers here. I feel Jimmy Anderson won’t play and Mark Wood might also not play. They might play two new bowlers,” Chopra said.
Ollie Robinson Might Play – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra noted that England could consider including Ollie Robinson or Gus Atkinson if Jimmy Anderson doesn’t play. He also mentioned the possibility of adding spinner Shoaib Bashir to the lineup, suggesting a spin-heavy attack for the third match.
“If Jimmy Anderson doesn’t play, Ollie Robinson might play. He is a very decent bowler. Gus Atkinson is also with this team, otherwise. They can play Shoaib Bashir as well if they wish. I feel the attack will be spin-heavy in this game,” Chopra stated.
Shoaib Bashir showcased a strong debut performance in the second Test and claimed four wickets, including a three-wicket haul in the first innings. However, he was omitted from the squad in the subsequent match, where England faced a significant defeat by 434 runs.
Joe Root Gets Out Defending As Well – Aakash Chopra
The reputed commentator expressed disappointment with Joe Root’s shot selection during the red ball series. Chopra emphasized Root’s extensive experience in Test cricket but expressed concerns about his recent dismissals.
“He is repeatedly saying that this is how he plays, that he gets out defending as well, so what difference does it make if he got out while playing a reverse sweep. He has scored nearly 11500 Test runs, so he knows better how to play, but the way he is getting out will obviously leave a lot to be desired,” Chopra further added.
Joe Root’s performance in the first three Tests against India has been disappointing, with only 77 runs scored across six innings. However, despite his batting struggles, Root has contributed as a part-time bowler, securing 7 wickets with best bowling figures of 4/79.
The Ben Stokes-led team will face the Rohit Sharma-led team in their next match of the series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. The English team aims to regain momentum in the Ranchi Test match.
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