England are definitely more suited to red-ball cricket than India: Anjum Chopra

In a conversation on JioCinema’s daily sports show ‘#AAKASHVANI’, hosted by Aakash Chopra, JioCinema expert Anjum Chopra, spoke about her expectations from the Test match between India Women and England Women at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai starting December 14.

On India’s chances in the Test 

Anjum Chopra: India have a chance mainly because they are playing at home. But, I feel the conditions will favour England since their Test players were practicing at the city’s gymkhanas when the white-ball series was on. So, they are more used to the conditions. In any case, England play more red-ball cricket. Our players played their last Test against Australia in 2021. Since that, they have not played red-ball cricket and there are no long-format domestic matches. So, England are definitely more suited to red-ball cricket than India. 

On India’s likely combination 

Anjum Chopra: I feel Sneh Rana and Meghna Singh should be in the line-up. If Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad join Sneh, so we may be able to see this spin combination. Plus, along with Megna Singh, if Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar (all-rounder) play, we’ll straight away have six bowlers. Between the two wicketkeepers, Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia, I’d prefer Yastika Bhatia because she bats and keeps really well. If we look at the top and middle order, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Harmanpreet Kaur come into it. 

On England’s progress in Test cricket 

Anjum Chopra: England’s performance over the years has improved. When they played the Ashes, they played a good Test. Tammy Beaumont scored a double hundred. From then to the Test that they will play against India, their progress has been consistent. England would like to go with both Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone. Even Kate Cross has joined the team. So, their bowling combination will be very good. England’s focus will be to bat well because their fielding and bowling are a lot more used to utilizing the red ball.