Can say with a lot of confidence that India can comprehensively beat England: Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar believes that India can defeat England by comprehensive margins in the upcoming five-match Test series. The former recently suffered a defeat in the final of the maiden edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand. Akhtar is expecting better wickets in England, in comparison to the ones witnessed previously. The former cricketer further termed hands moving way out in front and trigger movement from feet forcing players to move early in comparison to waiting for the ball, as a major factor behind batsmen from sub-continent struggling in English conditions.

“I see hot conditions and better wickets”

“I see hot conditions and better wickets. When India went to play the WTC final, I had no hopes from them. If you look at the trigger movement of the sub-continent batsmen, that cannot be changed in England straightaway. The bat hanging in front won’t stop. India will have to go there three weeks before so that the bat doesn’t go out in front. Anderson makes you commit in the air,” said Akhtar in an exclusive interaction with Sports Tak.

“And our trigger movement means that our foot goes early and the bat follows. To stop that, you have to practice for at least three weeks on a green top. In India, you cannot prepare those wickets as the climate is very different. Whether it is Dukes ball, it starts to float in the air. The problem with sub-continent players is that the moment ball is released we start moving. We don’t get to the pitch of the ball. The moment ball is released, we are already crossed over with our feet, see the case of Rohit Sharma,” he added.

“Would’ve asked the players to play in the county circuit without getting paid”

Akhtar further believes that the fitness of fast bowlers from both teams will be tested in England, as they will have to put in more effort and bowl longer spells.

“I would’ve asked the players to play in the county circuit without getting paid. Let the players play few matches and get them prepared. Else not, I would’ve arranged matches in the places in cold weather where the ball moves a lot. Ultimately, after a week and a half, the bat stops going out in front. Pakistan or India cannot perform straightaway in England; they would need time adjust. This is not an excuse; you are paid to play. Coaches are paid for players’ enhancement. England will make good wickets for the Test series.”

“If the wickets are good and the ball doesn’t seam much. There is a problem for England that the groundsmen don’t listen to their board. They make wickets on their own. Oval, Edgbaston, Manchester are all good tracks. In the five-match test series, India have a lot of chance of making a comeback. Bowlers’ fitness has to be very good as well as they will have to put in a lot of effort on certain grounds. I can say with a lot of confidence that India can comprehensively beat England,” he concluded.

India and England will be facing off in the first Test of the five-match series on August 4.