Nasser Hussain cautions the Indian team; feels their curve is going in wrong direction

It was expected to be a blockbuster series but it is slowly turning out to be yet another humiliation for India in their ongoing England tour as in 2011 and 2014. Former England captain Nasser Hussain has particularly warned India to “dig really deep” and prevent their “wheels from completely falling off” after the drubbing they received at Lord’s.

The visitors were bowled out for paltry scores of 107 and 130 in their two innings to lose the rain-hit game by an innings and 159 runs. It also meant that the visitors have failed to cross the 200-run mark in three consecutive innings now and that is a big worry for the team which banks on its batsmen to win matches.

“England are arguably the best in the world in these conditions but the real eye has to be on India – they have to be wary of the wheels completely falling off. India are No 1 in the world and it was meant to be a gun, tight series but at the moment it is men against boys. Their curve is going in the wrong direction.”,” Hussain told Sky Sports Cricket ahead of the third Test at Trent Bridge starting on August 18.

He also highlighted the injury problems India are likely to face after Virat Kohli looked troubled with his back with their ace spinner Ravi Ashwin also copping a few blows to his right hand.

“They were in the game for a long time last Test [at Edgbaston] but the back injury to Kohli is a concern, the fingers of [Ravichandran] Ashwin took a blow, the rest of their batting line-up continues to fail and there are no practice games in between. They have got to dig really deep – there are some really good cricketers in that dressing room and they have to come out fighting,” the 50-year-old added.

Expecting a bit at Trent Bridge as well

Nasser Hussain also said that conditions at Trent Bridge might not be as challenging but added that a “bit” could be expected there as well. India can’t afford to lose the next Test as that would mean their losing streak in a Test series in England will continue over three series.

James Anderson will continue to remain a threat as usual for the Indians, Stuart Broad could also be menacing for he has a record of picking 8 wickets for 15 runs at that venue against Australia and will not let India off the hook easily. Hussain also believed that it is a payback time for England who were routed by India 4-0 in the last series the two sides played in 2016-17 in India.

“I have seen that they are a hungry team. They won’t rest on their laurels, they want to get better and better,” he concluded.

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