Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes India will have a strong chance of winning the upcoming Test series against England if they can clinch the games in Leeds and Manchester, but South African pace great Dale Steyn has backed the hosts to triumph 3-2 in the five-match contest. India and England kick off their new World Test Championship cycle with the five-match series, starting with the first game in Leeds on Friday. Manchester will host the fourth Test from July 23.
“I don’t think England bowlers are that good, they have got a number of injuries and a number of retirees as well, that will be the challenge,” Hayden said. "The northern Test matches when it’s zipping around, that will be key. Win that one and it could well be a series that goes India’s way,” he added.
Since India's last red ball tour of England, the hosts’ two most experienced bowlers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, have bid adieu to international cricket. Additionally, England’s bowling arsenal is also considerably depleted with speedster Mark Wood ruled out of at least the first three Tests due to injury. Fellow quick Jofra Archer will also miss the opening game, and Gus Atkinson is continuing to recover from a hamstring strain.
With a youthful batting line-up and limited red-ball exposure in recent months, the visitors will face a stern challenge. Steyn didn’t write India off, but backed England to claim the trophy. “It is a pretty young team. Probably England are going to win the series but it’s not going to come without a fight. I feel like there are going to be one or two Tests that India will take themselves. All games will be close. But every game will have a result. I think it will be 3-2 in favour of England. But even that will be incredibly difficult.”
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar also backed England to clinch the trophy, but agreed the series would be a closely fought affair. “I think England have an edge. They are playing at home and the Indian team is going through a transitional phase.”
Sundar’s journey goaded Sai Sudharsan to work harder
Washington Sundar’s meteoric rise in a quick span of time was an inspiration for his younger state-mate B Sai Sudharsan, who is all set to make his Test debut against England at Leeds on June 20. Sudharsan spoke about how Sundar’s journey goaded him to work harder in order to achieve his goal of donning India colours. “We have looked up to him a lot,” Sudharsan said on the sidelines of the intra-squad warm-up game with a beaming Washington by his side.
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