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Nasser Hussain believes the hosts England will find it difficult to win a Test match with only their skipper Joe Root scoring runs consistently. The comments came in the wake of England’s humiliating 2nd Test defeat against India at the historic Lord’s on Monday despite having an upper hand before heading into the 5th Day.

The cracks in England’s fragile batting line-up were out in broad daylight against a world-class Indian pace attack. The hosts were bundled out for just 120 in the second innings to lose the match by 151 runs.

Nasser Hussain. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Nasser Hussain: England Can’t Win Tests With Only Joe Root Contributing By Scoring Much Needed Runs

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain stressed that other batters need to start contributing if England has to make a comeback in the series.

Nasser Hussain asserted: “England did play a lot of good cricket at Lord’s, let’s not forget that. When Rishabh Pant was walking off on Monday we all thought it could be 1-0 to England. India do have frailties in their batting. But England can’t win Tests with just one player in Root getting runs.”

“Robinson has been an incredible find when there have been so many injuries to bowlers. So let’s not write them off just yet, but they desperately need others to score runs,” he added.

Joe Root has amassed 1277 runs playing 10 Tests in 2021, averaging 57.21, and has hit 5 tons. He scored 228 and 186 against Sri Lanka and hit 218 in the 1st Test against and in India while scoring 109 and an unbeaten 180 in the first two successive Tests when India toured England.

The opening combination of Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley has failed repeatedly and may be changed for the 3rd Test, which begins on 25th August. The top three England batsmen especially have been under fire since the start of this year. England already dropped Zak Crawley from the XI after his string of low scores.

Haseeb Hameed was brought back into the England XI after almost five years, but even he looked tentative at Lord’s. He made a golden duck and a patient 45-ball 9 in the first and second innings respectively. Hence, Dawid Malan and James Vince, both of whose last Test came in 2018, are both under serious consideration to fill the opener’s spot for the third Test.

Nasser Hussain Loved The 2nd Lord’s Test As It Was Cricket At Its Absolute Best

England’s top three batsmen have had horrid outings in recent times. Rory Burns has only managed 617 runs in 12 outings since 2020 while Dominic Sibley has scored only 917 runs from 19 Test matches in the last two years. Haseeb Hameed, who came into the playing XI at the expense of Zak Crawley at Lord’s, also failed to make a lasting impression. Haseeb Hameed registered a golden duck in the first innings and only scored nine runs in the second.

Fans were treated to some end-to-end cricket at Lord’s with players giving their all to win the well-contested Test match. The cricketers from both sides had a couple of fiery exchanges but Nasser Hussain felt everything was well within the line.

“No. I love the way Kohli plays his cricket and this India side will not be bullied. The theatre and drama was exceptional. You don’t want people to get physical but we didn’t see that at Lord’s. It’s a heated game and there is a lot on the line. I loved what was going on out there over the five days. It was box office — Test cricket at its absolute best,” Nasser Hussain concluded.

With India 1-0 ahead, the third match of the series will commence on August 25 at Headingley in Leeds.