Former England captain Michael Atherton has urged India to consider a three-spinner strategy for the crucial fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, as the visitors look to claw back in the five-match series after a narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s handed England a 2-1 lead.With India weighing rotation options for pace ace Jasprit Bumrah due to workload concerns and seeking the best possible combination to level the series, Atherton suggested bringing in left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to exploit the traditionally spin-friendly Old Trafford surface.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“In the middle, where the televised pitches are, I said just flat, flat, flat. You know wrist spin goes well at Old Trafford in those circumstances,” Atherton said on the Sky Sports podcast. “So I was wondering whether they could go like Bumrah and Siraj and then play their three spinners – Washington Sundar, Jadeja, and Kuldeep.”Atherton acknowledged, however, that weather could play spoilsport. “You don’t know about the forecast in Manchester, that’s the other thing. If it’s going to be cooler and showery, and whether the fast bowlers then come into it – but I think that’s a definite option India should think about,” he added.
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India had a chance to bring in Kuldeep in the third Test but stuck with the tried combination. Despite Bumrah’s seven wickets and KL Rahul’s gritty hundred, they failed to chase 193 on the final day, sliding to 170 all out despite a late fight from Ravindra Jadeja.India had previously levelled the series in Birmingham with a thumping win but now face a must-win situation in Manchester from July 23.
