Axar Patel has said that the spinners will play an important role for India during the England tour. The Indian cricket team is gearing up for the England tour which begins on June 18 with the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in Southampton. It also comprises a five-match Test series against the hosts England which will be played later in the month of August.
Axar Patel: Having Quality Spinners In Side Always A Plus Point For They Can Chip In When Pacers Need Rest
A strong 20-man squad, along with five standby players, will be boarding the flight for the United Kingdom on June 2. Ahead of the much-awaited tour, off-spinner Axar Patel has said that the spinners will play an important role for India during the tour. In a conversation with India TV, Axar Patel highlighted the advantages of having quality spinners to play in English conditions.
“When we play in India, the spinners play an attacking role. And when you tour abroad, play in countries like England and Australia where spinners don’t get much assistance, having quality spinners in the side is always a plus point as they can chip in when your pacers need rest. They don’t let the opposition batsmen to score easily,” Axar Patel told India TV.
“The weather in England favours pace bowling and as a spinner, it’s important to understand your role and how you would bowl in such conditions,” he added.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been India’s star performers in Test cricket as the spin duo has dismantled daunting opposition line-ups, especially during India’s home seasons in recent years.
However, it becomes tougher for the Virat Kohli-led team management to play both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja when India tour overseas, with the pitch offering seamers more assistance than the spinners. India’s eleven in overseas Tests mostly has featured either one of the spinners.
Axar Patel: Even Spinners And Lower Order Players Can Bat Really Well
The left-arm off-spinner further said that the Indian spin attack can adjust to the prevailing conditions and put pressure on the opponent accordingly.
“The kind of spin attack we have, it’s very well aware that how they should bowl as per the circumstances. Should they step up on getting assistance from the pitch or how can they control the batsmen when the conditions are favouring the pacers. So, all these calculations are very important and we spinners have the same thought process,” Axar said.
Axar Patel also stressed the fact that the Indian spinners also have the ability to contribute efficiently with the bat.
“Now, even spinners and the lower-order players in our team can bat really well. If you have batting till No 8 or 9 in the line-up on English pitches, then you are capable of defeating any team. I think, that is the biggest plus point,” he said.
Axar Patel made his Test debut in February 2021, six years after playing his maiden limited-overs match for India, and starred so much so with the ball that he ended up picking 27 wickets from the 3 matches in the series. He took 4 five-wicket hauls as England lost the series 3-1.
England managed to win only the first Test match which Axar Patel missed due to a knee injury. In his debut Test series, he picked 27 scalps to finish behind Ravichandran Ashwin (32) in the leading wicket-takers list.