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Former England batter Michael Atherton has pegged India as the frontrunners for the much-anticipated five-match home Test series against England. Atherton's confidence in the Indian team stems from their superior spin bowling capabilities, especially in subcontinental conditions, which he believes will play a crucial role in the series.
Highlighting the strength of Indian spinners, Atherton pointed out their proven track record in similar playing environments. This contrasts with the relative lack of experience among England's spinners on Indian pitches, which could be a significant hurdle for the visiting team.
"I think India will win. Their spinners are better than England's and that will be the defining thing in the end. If you go to India, spin will play a big part, it historically has done and I suspect it will always do. India do have a very strong seam attack as well," said Atherton on Sky Sports.
The series, set to begin on January 25 in Hyderabad, follows England's preparation camp in Abu Dhabi, UAE, lasting 11 days. The England squad is scheduled to arrive in India on January 21, Sunday, with high hopes of clinching their first Test series win on Indian soil in over a decade.
England's last triumph in India was achieved under Alastair Cook's leadership in 2012, where they secured a 2-1 series victory. The Indian pitches, known for their spin-friendly nature, are expected to play a major role in the upcoming series.
India has announced a spin-heavy 16-player squad for the initial two Tests, featuring prominent names like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel. Conversely, England's squad includes four spinners: experienced left-arm spinner Jack Leach, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, and newcomers Tom Hartley (left-arm spinner) and Shoaib Bashir (off-spinner). Of these, only Leach has prior experience playing Test cricket in India.
"India's four spinners are very different to England's. They have two left-arm finger spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. They have a wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners of all time," Atherton said.
"England have a solid left-arm spinner in Jack Leach and then three very inexperienced spinners after that with Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed. It will be a particular challenge for them, but the selectors see a high ceiling for them," he added.
India boasts an impressive record of 16 consecutive home Test series wins following their defeat to England in 2012. This formidable streak underlines their dominance in home conditions and sets the stage for an intriguing contest between the two cricketing powerhouses. The upcoming series promises to be a test of strategy and skill, particularly in the spin department, where India's experience and expertise could prove decisive against England's relatively inexperienced spin attack.
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