Alastair Cook points out Team India's biggest weakness in Tests

Alastair Cook, the former England cricketer, reckons that Team India’s batters have their work cut out while facing the moving ball in the upcoming Tests against Joe Root and Co. Back in June, India had a tough time in soggy overseas conditions as they lost the World Test Championship (WTC) final to New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Kyle Jamieson’s five-wicket haul broke the backbone of India’s star-studded batting lineup in the first innings. Cook, who retired from Test cricket back in September 2018, mentioned that the English fast-bowlers might be licking their lips to bowl at the Indian batsmen.

Alastair Cook opines

“India are a great side. England will always fancy their chances more if that ball moves. If the conditions are like that in the month of August with moisture around, England will fancy bowling to that Indian side,” Cook was quoted as saying on BBC Test Match Special Podcast episode.

Cook, who scored a ton both in his maiden and final Test, said that India could have rejigged their playing eleven for the WTC final given how the conditions were. As per the veteran, picking more pacers for the match should have been the way forward for the Indians.

“They (India) got a bit confident in picking that side three days out before (the game) and playing two spinners where they pretty much knew it was going to rain for a lot of that game. So a lot of seam bowling was bowled. Even though their spinners are world-class, they got a little bit ahead of themselves there,” he stated.

Last month, Cook, along with former Brits’ skipper Michael Vaughan, had predicted the Black Caps to win the WTC final. On his predictions, Cook said that the Kiwis were the favourites because of the two Tests they played against England.

“I did say New Zealand were going to win that game purely down to the fact that they were match-hardened. Those two Test matches against England were such perfect preparation,” Cook added.

The five-match Test series between India and England is set to get underway on August 4 and will take place until mid-September. Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Headingley, Kennington Oval, and Old Trafford will play hosts to the high-profile series.