Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels the first innings runs will be crucial for the visitors in the fourth Test match against India. England has failed to score more than 200 runs in their last five innings as they have struggled to get going in the arduous conditions.
In fact, the tourists couldn’t score 200 runs collectively in both the innings in the third Test match. The visitors haven’t been able to tackle the spinning conditions and they have found themselves at sea while facing the Indian spinners.
Axar Patel had scalped 11 wickets in the third Test match whereas Ravichandran Ashwin bagged seven wickets. Thus, both of them consistently caused problems for the English batsmen.
Meanwhile, England’s captain Joe Root had won the toss in the third Test match but the visitors couldn’t take advantage as their innings was snuffed out at 112. Furthermore, the guests could only manage 81 runs in the second dig.
It is always noticed that the first innings score plays a key role in the outcome of any Test match. The first innings score always sets up a Test match for a side but England hasn’t been able to come up with a collective effort.
“The key for England in this final Test is those first innings runs. They haven’t got past 200 in their last five innings and if they had managed to get there the first time in Ahmedabad, they probably would have gone on to win the Test,” wrote Nasser Hussain for Daily Mail.
Hussain believes there is still hope for Joe Root-led team if they can get a big first-innings score and thus put the opposition under pressure.
“India are still under pressure. If England can get that first innings score, as they had been doing before the last two Tests, and get their second spinner in business — as India has done — there is still hope for Root in this series,” Nasser Hussain added.
Hussain feels the tourists can not adopt the policy of block or slog, which they have done so in the last two Test matches. The former England skipper reckons the visitors will need to find the right balance while batting against the potent Indian spinners.
India will hold the advantage against England and the fourth Test match will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad from March 4.
