Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that the England cricket team lacks a quality batting unit. He named Joe Root as the only quality batter in England’s batting unit.
Notably, England will be heading into the third Test against India at Headingley, Leeds with a couple of changes. Saqib Mahmood and Dawid Malan have been added to the squad. Also, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley have been dropped from the Test side.
In his latest YouTube video, Aakash Chopra discussed about the England Test team. He believes that the England Test team is more about quantity and they lack quality players. He feels that the team is adding up numbers. Former Indian cricketer asserted:
“There are so many options but this English team is more about quantity, not about quality. The quality is there in just one player, among the batsmen, and he is Joe Root. The rest of them in Test-match cricket, they are just adding up the numbers at this point in time against India’s fantastic bowling attack.”
The 43-year-old feels that England’s batting unit has struggled against the new Indian pace attack in the series. Aakash Chopra said :
“This is the reality, hate it or like it. The job this bowling attack has done, the opposition team has fallen slightly on their knees in the batting department definitely.”
Our squad for the next three Tests 👇
Joe Root Captain
Moeen Ali
James Anderson
Jonathan Bairstow
Rory Burns
Jos Buttler
Sam Curran
Haseeb Hameed
Dan Lawrence
Saqib Mahmood
Dawid Malan
Craig Overton
Ollie Pope
Ollie Robinson
Mark Wood #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/ksyhNhqEat— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) August 18, 2021
Aakash Chopra Gives His Thoughts On Changes In England Line-up
The cricketer-turned-commentator lauded the new recruit of England, Saqib Mahmood for his performance against Pakistan. Aakash Chopra elaborated:
“Sibley and Crawley, both have been dropped. Dawid Malan and Saqib Mahmood have been called back into the team. Saqib did really well against Pakistan. He was a part of the squad for the second match, he was then released but now because of Wood’s injury, he has been called. There is a possibility, the match is in Headingley, you might want to just spruce up your fast-bowling reserves.”
Aakash Chopra opined that Dom Sibley’s struggle with the bat led England to add Dawid Malan to the team. He said:
“Malan, yes he is a T20 champion. Malan’s story is that Dom Sibley has been struggling. It seems Haseeb Hameed will open and in the middle, you can play Malan or Ollie Pope, you can also send Bairstow at No.3.”
Meanwhile, England will face off India in the third Test match which is scheduled to take place at Headingley, Leeds. The match will begin on Wednesday 25 August.
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