IND vs ENG: “I would have played Anderson,” Former England captain Nasser Hussain expresses his surprise

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In a challenging day for England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India’s batters displayed resilience, forging solid partnerships and frustrating the English bowlers. Despite the efforts with the ball, England struggled to make breakthroughs as all of India’s batters, with the exception of Ravichandran Ashwin, made notable contributions. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja both notched half-centuries, guiding India to a first-innings lead of 175 runs. The second day concluded with India at 421/7 in 110 overs.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain expressed his surprise at the team’s playing XI, suggesting that including James Anderson could have made a difference. Hussain emphasized the need for a balanced side, especially considering Joe Root’s presence in India, where the current combination features four spinners and only one seamer. According to Hussain, a seamer like Anderson or Ollie Robinson could provide valuable control in such conditions.

“I said before the game, I would have played Anderson. I was a bit surprised at the balance of the side because with (Joe) Root in India, it is four spinners and one seamer,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.

“Anderson gives you control. It doesn’t even have to be him, it can be (Ollie) Robinson, just another seamer,” he added.