In order to recover from their humiliation in Rajkot, former England cricketer Owais Shah feels that the England team would prefer a turning track for their fourth Test match against India in Ranchi. Owais Shah went on to say that Jasprit Bumrah being rested for the match will make the England team even happier.
India’s massive 434-run victory over the English team on Sunday gave them a decisive 2-1 lead in their five-match Test series, handing England their worst defeat in recent times. Following their victory in the first Test match, England struggled to bowl and bat as Indian stars such as Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal demonstrated their undoubted dominance over the visiting team.
Bumrah is the series’ top wicket-taker with 17 scalps at an incredible average of 13.64. In Hyderabad, on a pitch that was favourable to spin, the England spinners destroyed the Indian batting order in the second innings; however, on the placid Rajkot surface, they were ineffectual.
They have faced problems mostly against Jasprit Bumrah- Owais Shah
Owais Shah was asked what kind of surface England would choose for the penultimate game during a conversation on Colors Cineplex. He replied:
“I feel England will like a turning wicket because the way they have batted against spin in this series, they haven’t faced any difficulties. They have faced problems mostly against Jasprit Bumrah. I heard Bumrah is probably being rested for the next match. England will be happy if Jasprit Bumrah is rested,”
In an attempt to recover from their humiliating defeat in the third test, former England cricketer Owais Shah predicts that the Ben Stokes-led England team will be hoping for a spin-friendly pitch for their fourth test match against India in Ranchi. Owais Shah feels the visiting spinners might be more effective on a helpful surface.
“If they get a turning wicket, England spinners can get some help and might control the run rate. This match slipped away from Ben Stokes’ hands because he wasn’t able to control the run rate as the wicket was very good for batting and your batters played amazingly well against our spinners,” he stated.
Only one or two players are playing well- Owais Shah on England’s batting is not working as a unit
Owais Shah was also questioned about whether England will be concerned about the upcoming fourth Test. With an affirmative response, he reasoned:
“They would be worried. Ollie Pope played a 196-run knock in the first match and Ben Duckett scored a century in this match but the batting is not working as a unit. One or two players are playing well but the captain will want the entire unit to bat well,”
The former cricket player who is now a broadcaster said that England may need to make some personnel changes in order to score a respectable first innings total.
“If you somehow score 400-450 runs in the first innings, then you can put pressure on the opposition. That is not happening. So they might have to consider bringing in a spare batter. They have lost two consecutive Tests, so they will have to make some changes if they want to win this series,” Owais Shah added.
Dan Lawrence could start in place of Ben Foakes in Shah’s lineup, with Jonny Bairstow taking over as the wicketkeeper. He also mentioned that Lawrence may substitute for Bairstow.