India vs England | Michael Hussey believes India has ‘good chance’ to defeat England

Much like his tight close-to-the-body batting, Michael Hussey always has been measured with his words. Known as Mr. Cricket for his wholesome knowledge of the game, Hussey believed that India has a ‘good chance’ of defeating England in the British Isles. He pointed out that the warm weather and dry pitches would make spinners’ role extremely important in the series. 

“India will be playing in the second half of the summer. The weather will be warm and the pitches, dry. The spinners will come into play,” Mike Hussey said on Saturday as quoted by The Hindu. 

The 43-year-old Hussey said India should not underestimate the pace duo Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Hussey felt Anderson and Broad might not be as potent as they once were, but were experienced, crafty and could still do some damage. 

“You should never underestimate champion players,” he said.

Turning his attention to Virat Kohli, who found run-making hard in his last Test tour of England, Hussey observed, “He would know what he did wrong then. Virat would have learnt from that. Had he not picked up an injury, a stint in the county circuit ahead of the Test series would have helped him.”

Hussey noted batsmen generally tend to struggle early on in the English conditions but once they overcame that period, they find batting much easier. “You have to show belief, find your own method and adapt to the conditions.”

Hussey was of the view that India would be hurt by the absence of the ‘Big Two’ Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, in the first half of the five-Test series, but added India still had firepower.

“I like Umesh Yadav, he has improved, has pace. And Mohammed Shami can be a very good bowler on his day. Ishant Sharma is still around. So India has pacemen,” Hussey said.

He, however, was not convinced about India fielding left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ahead of the experienced off-spinner Ashwin.

Hussey said, “Kuldeep is still young, his time will come. I think India should have Ashwin as its main spinner. He has over 300 Test wickets, is vastly experienced. He would be very effective against left-handers too.”

On England recalling leg-spinner Adil Rashid for the Test series against India, the bowler earlier declared his desire to focus only on limited-over cricket, Hussey said, “It’s a calculated gamble on the part of the English selectors. Rashid is a good bowler.”