India vs England, 1st Test Day 1: Ben Stokes wants Indian batters to attack England’s spinners and get out

‘Ben Stokes would invite India batters to hit England spinners for sixes’: Monty Panesar

England has taken a risk in the first Test against India in Hyderabad by selecting three spinners and leaving out the leading pacer, James Anderson. They seem to assume that the pitch will favor spin from the beginning. Ben Stokes, not bowling, leaves them with only four specialist bowlers, including part-time off-spinner Joe Root. Two of the spinners, Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed, have minimal Test experience.

India is without Virat Kohli for the first two Tests, but they have strong boundary-hitting players like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer, especially against spinners. Former England spinner Monty Panesar suggests that Ben Stokes might encourage India to attack the inexperienced spinners and take advantage of their inexperience.

Panesar, who was part of the England team that beat India in 2012, believes Stokes would want the young spinners to be aggressive and take wickets quickly, even if they concede runs. This approach, termed “Bazball,” is not just about attacking batting but also applies to the bowling mentality.

Regarding Tom Hartley, who is making his Test debut, Panesar compares him to India’s Axar Patel, describing him as a bowler who relies more on accuracy and setting up batsmen rather than generating significant spin.

In summary, England’s gamble with three spinners and the absence of James Anderson may test their bowling depth against India’s powerful batting lineup. Stokes might encourage the inexperienced spinners to attack, embracing a bold and aggressive approach, known as “Bazball.”