India's Missing Link Vs England Could Be Reverse Swing

Cricket Image for India's Missing Link Vs England Could Be Reverse Swing (Indian Bowlers (Image Source: Google))

While India begins favorites against England in the upcoming four-Test series since they are playing at home, their two top exponents of reverse swing, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, will be missing from the line-up, depriving the hosts of a key weapon required on Indian surfaces.

Reverse swing plays an important role on all Asian pitches and MS Dhoni made that clear in 2012-13 when the visiting England pulled off a surprise 2-1 win over host India.

Although spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann picked wickets and demolished India, Dhoni termed James Anderson's presence in the England camp as the major difference between the two sides. Anderson picked just 12 wickets in four Tests then but that made the difference.

Anderson, 38, will again be featuring in England playing XI at least in one of the first two Tests. England also has the experience of Stuart Broad and the pace of Jofra Archer to draw on. Ben Stokes, too, is quite adept at bowling reverse swing.

India, on the other hand, have Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur in their line-up as both Shami and Umesh, who have been effective in home conditions, are absent.

The two were injured during the recent tour of Australia and are still recovering. They haven't been named in the squad for the first two Tests.

England batting coach Graham Thorpe on Friday admitted that reverse swing would play a key role, but declined to comment on whether England is in an advantageous position in that respect due to the absence of Shami and Yadav.

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