Former Australian chinaman spinner Brad Hogg feels Indian opener Rohit Sharma will struggle to get going in the tough English conditions. Hogg stated that he will be surprised if Rohit makes a big impact in the series against England. The Indian opener has a great Test record in the Indian conditions as he averages 79 at home.
However, Rohit doesn’t have a great record in overseas conditions as he averages 27 and that average comes down to 24 in English conditions. In fact, Rohit opened for the first time in England in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
The veteran batsman had got off to starts in the two Test matches he played against Australia and then once again got off a start in both innings of the WTC final against the Kiwis but he wasn’t able to convert them into substantial scores.
Hogg feels Rohit could have a hard time while facing experienced England fast bowlers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who both are lethal in their own conditions.
Brad Hogg said while talking on YouTube Channel, “When Rohit Sharma is in India, he averages 79 (in Tests). But when he goes away, he only averages 27. Then we go to England, it even gets worse – it’s just 24. I think he is going to have a few issues against the likes of Broad and Anderson, especially opening the batting against the Duke ball. I will be very surprised if he has a big impact in this series.”
Hogg feels the upcoming Test series against England will define Rohit Sharma as a Test batsman. Rohit has been able to grab his chances while opening the innings in the home conditions but he is yet to prove his mettle in the foreign conditions.
“We all know how good he (Rohit) is and this has been one of the kryptonites in his game at Test level, performing away from India. England, probably for an Indian batsman, has the hardest conditions to adjust to. He has had plenty of time over there so if he is going to do it, it has got to be this time. I think this will define him as a Test cricketer,” Brad Hogg signed off.
India and England will play the first Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from August 4.
