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England picked the wrong side for fourth Test, says Nasser Hussain

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Nasser Hussain says England's lack of an extra batsman could prove costly after India built a first-innings lead on day three of the fourth Test.

Virat Kohli struck a sensational unbeaten 147 - and Murali Vijay 136 - as India closed on 451-7, with a 51-run lead already.

While Hussain couldn't criticise England's effort with the ball generally, he believes the bowling attack picked of four seamers and two spinners on the Mumbai track has proven to be an error.

"England have not picked the right side here," he said. "There is no way you could have looked at this pitch before the game and said it was a four-seamer pitch.

"They're making up for the mistakes they made in previous games by not playing the extra seamer, but Chris Woakes has bowled only eight overs out of 142 so far here.

"England have two or three exceptional all-rounders in their team, but they're not making use of them - they keep playing an extra bowler which they don't need and it means those all-rounders are then wasted.

"What are England going to need tomorrow when they face a 100-odd run deficit? Are they going to need a fourth seamer? Or are they going to need some runs from an extra batsman? I'd say the extra batsman.

"I don't know where it has come in that we suddenly need six bowlers, plus Joe Root on a spinning pitch."

Root took two wickets in his eight overs with the ball, but dropped Jayant Yadav (30no) at slip when on eight late in the day; one of a number of missed chances by the tourists.

"You can't afford to give good players chances as they're going to hurt you," added Hussain. "Yesterday there was the missed stumping of Vijay when he was on 50-odd, and today the dropped caught-and-bowled chance for Rashid when Kohli was on 60-odd.

"England came up against a very special player today in Kohli. The locals came in to see the Kohli show, and he absolutely delivered - it was a magnificent innings.

"England stuck at their task, they really did. They didn't let their heads drop and kept going, but those missed chances hurt you.

"I think they should have taken the second new ball earlier - yes, it's going to cost you a few runs but it will also get you a chance.

"First ball that James Anderson bowled to Jayant with the new ball, he nicked it, but Root put it down. England keep making these little errors here and there and they keep catching up with them."

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...rong-side-for-fourth-test-says-nasser-hussain
 
When all your spinners are rubbish it won't matter if you play 2 or 5
 
Would it make more sense just to admit that Ind are just better. What did the 3rd spinner do in the other tests?
 
Would it make more sense just to admit that Ind are just better. What did the 3rd spinner do in the other tests?

Don't think he said that as an excuse.

He was analyzing various things and for this topic, he said that.

He is right. Some of the English squad selections made no sense. It was so stupid to have 2 unselectable middle order bats in the squad but not call up anyone....to not call up Jack Leach even for the squad..etc.

Not that any of that would have affected the end result but talking about the selections.
 
I wonder if England's brilliant (on paper anyway) batting depth goes against them because no one takes responsibility as they think "oh it's okay we bat deep so someone else will take care of it"?
 
I wonder if England's brilliant (on paper anyway) batting depth goes against them because no one takes responsibility as they think "oh it's okay we bat deep so someone else will take care of it"?
I don't think so. But the batting order is wrong. Root is too high, Moeen is really a test #7 not a #4, Bairstow is too low and Buttler should have the gloves.

But as said, the spinners are not good enough to trouble India. Of for the days of Swann and Monty......
 
I don't think so. But the batting order is wrong. Root is too high, Moeen is really a test #7 not a #4, Bairstow is too low and Buttler should have the gloves.

But as said, the spinners are not good enough to trouble India. Of for the days of Swann and Monty......

Given what I think is a vast improvement in Bairstows keeping over the last 6 months I personally think Bairstow should be hanging onto the gloves and therefore at 5 is as high as he should possibly be in the lineup. Come the summer get Hameed and Jennings in at 2 and 3, put Root back down to 4 and move Moeen back to 8 like usual if he's considered a better option than Rashid.
 
To be brutal, England have been awful. They have batted 1st, 3 out of 4 tests and bar a brief moment in the 1st test test, they have never looked like being at the races. This Ind side is good but they have been made to look unbeatable.
 
Lol. :D England using 6-7 bowlers in a Test match. Sri Lanka style. :angelo

Eng just need one more bowler.


Joke aside, 5 bowlers are more than enough. If you are having more than 5 then it's likely that you won't use all of them.
 
I don't think so. But the batting order is wrong. Root is too high, Moeen is really a test #7 not a #4, Bairstow is too low and Buttler should have the gloves.

But as said, the spinners are not good enough to trouble India. Of for the days of Swann and Monty......

Any spinner in county circuit Rob?
 
Jack Leach after his county season can consider himself hard done by being ignored for Liam Dawson by the selectors. He should've been on the plane.
 
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