India are favourites but don’t write Bazball off: Nasser Hussain

The upcoming five-match Test series against India will arguably be England’s biggest challenge ever since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over the national team. They have changed the way Test cricket used to be played and have been extremely successful against quality opponents in the past couple of years. However, in the spin-friendly conditions in India, the challenge will be massive as the Ben Stokes-led side doesn’t have enough experience in tackling the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on a spinning track.

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain understands the challenge and has called India the favourites but isn’t ruling out the visitors yet. He reminded that under the leadership of Stokes, the England team never gives up and has been extremely successful in home conditions. He is also eager to see India’s approach in the upcoming series, especially with Bazball being in their head.

“India are the favourites, but every single challenge Bazball has faced they've stuck to their guns and Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum's record is seriously good, I wouldn't write them off. Bazball has been very successful, especially at home and the two toughest places to tour are India or Australia. It's going to be a massive challenge for England,” Hussain said while talking to Sky Sports.

“India want to see how this new approach will work at home. It will be fascinating cricket and will be interesting to see how this particular side will go against what is one of the great cricketing outfits at the moment, which is the India side,” he further added.

I think India will win, their spinners are better than England: Michael Atherton

Former England international Michael Atherton too believes that the Rohit Sharma-led side will find a way to win the five-match series against England. He mentioned that India have a strong spin bowling unit, which will be the defining thing in the end.

“If you go to India, spin will play a big part, it historically has done and I suspect it always will do. India do have a very strong seam attack as well. I think India will win. Their spinners are better than England's and that will be the defining thing in the end,” Atherton said.