Former England international Monty Panesar wants team India to play two spinners in the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, which is slated to begin on June 7. Notably, given the history, the world’s number-one ranked Test side has rarely played two spinners on English soil in the past and thus, it will be interesting to see if both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin get a spot in the playing XI for the summit clash.
Meanwhile, Panesar expects the surface at The Oval to favour the batters and thus believes that it will be ideal for the Rohit Sharma-led side to back both their senior spinners since it assists spinners too. The 41-year-old also added that Australia have previously struggled against India’s spin duo in Test cricket and informed that the pitch will change on the fourth and fifth day and will favour the spinners.
“It is one pitch in England you tend to play two spinners. If the ball turns, there is bounce as well for the spinners. In my view, the wicket will be flat. In these conditions, it will suit India if they play two spinners. We have already seen Australia struggling against spinners, especially from India. I also don’t see them keeping grass because they would want the match to last at least four days,” Panesar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
I would go with Umesh Yadav as third seamer: Panesar
Coming to the pace department, Panesar wants India to back Umesh Yadav to team up with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. He added that Umesh’s express pace can trouble the Australian batters and also stated that the ball will reverse at The Oval, which can favour the Indian bowlers.
“It will also be interesting to see who the seamers will be as they have lot of options there as well. India are the stronger side in my opinion on all fronts. As they will get extra batting options with Ashwin and Jadeja, I would go with Umesh as the third pacer. He is the guy Rohit can go to and say ‘I want you to bowl five overs at 140 plus and rough up the Australian batters’. You will need that extra pace.
“The ball does reverse at The Oval and we have seen how good the Indian bowlers are when it comes to reverse swing. They can get the ball to move more than the Australian pacers. It is for India to lose this game,” Panesar added.
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