India are a great side, but England will always fancy their chances more if the ball moves: Alastair Cook

The high-octane clash between India and New Zealand in the inaugural final of the World Test Championship resulted in the Kiwis taking home the Test mace. With the likes of Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, New Zealand bowling unit made the most of the English conditions. Though India had belief and depth in their batting line-up, their batters couldn’t capitalize on their starts.

India will now draw sword against England for a five-match Test series that is set to commence from August 4. This encounter will mark the beginning of the second cycle of the World Test Championship. Going ahead, India will aim to tinker in the aspects they fell short on and start the series on a winning note. Having said that the England seamers can post a threat to India’s batting line-up as they seemed to struggle against it in the WTC too.

Echoing the similar sentiment, the former England captain Alastair Cook opined on the BBC Test Match Special Podcast that the moving ball can be a tough nut for India to crack. He further added that this could fall in favor of the hosts to fancy their winning chances. “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.”

India got a bit ahead of themselves by choosing two spinners: Alastair Cook

Cook also stated that the decision to go with two spinners for the WTC final whilst knowing the weather conditions was a tad too confident from India.

“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”

The England veteran, Cook also reckoned that the lack of match practice for the Indian side was a major blow for them. “I did say New Zealand were going to win that game purely down the fact that they were match-hardened. Those two Test matches against England were such perfect preparation.”