The former captain of India discusses England’s “extremely inexperienced bowling line-up” and says, “They Had the Choice…”

When the two sides play the first Test in Hyderabad on Thursday, Anil Kumble, the former captain of India, believes that young English spinners Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley would have a difficult time against the star-studded Indian batting lineup. On the eve of the first Test of the series, the visitors announced their playing eleven, including Joe Root, a part-time player, and three front-line spinners with Mark Wood as the lone pacer.

On Thursday, Ahmed will make his second appearance for England in the longest version of the game, while left-arm finger-spinner Tom Hartley is scheduled to make his debut. They will split the spin-bowling duties with Jack Leach, who has more experience. Stokes has already declared himself unable to bowl throughout the series, so Wood will need to speak about the red ball.

England’s bowling assault for the first game is seen by Kumble as “extremely inexperienced.” The former leg-spinner said that while the England captain could have some difficulty striking the proper balance, it would be intriguing to see how the visitors approach the two-month series.

Everything hinges on how Jack Leach directs the spin assault. “Three spinners, naturally. The English management has clearly seen the pitch and they think it will take turns,” Kumble said to a PTI question at a Jio Cinema-organized meeting.

“It will be fascinating to see how they go with only one fast bowler in the team since, in my opinion, they had the option of using Jonny Bairstow as the keeper and then adding another fast bowler if Harry Brook was unable to play.

“With the addition of Ben Foakes, he will stick with only one fast bowler. It will be intriguing to see how they go, but this bowling team is really inexperienced. We don’t know how much bowling Ben Stokes will do, Kumble remarked.

Hartley and Ahmed, among others, will have difficult times in the series, according to Kumble.

“Those young spinners, especially Rehan and Hartley, will have a tremendous task in applying pressure to this excellent Indian batting lineup.”

“While I’m not a man with a crystal ball, I think India will win the series. Because of the mindset that these two sides have for Test cricket, I believe all five (Tests) will yield outcomes,” he said.

“There would be results for all five Test matches, barring any weather-related cancellations. “I would donate four to India and one to England,” he said.