Former India opener batsman turned commentator Akash Chopra has predicted that the middle-order batsmen of both teams will score more runs than the top 3 batsmen in the third test between India and England.
The Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have been the most significant contributors to India in the series so far. While in the case of England, Joe Root is simply unstoppable with two centuries to his name in two matches already. Jonny Bairstow has stepped up and supported his captain with decent knocks.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra opined that the top-order batsmen will find it more difficult to survive the conditions at Headingley.
Chopra elaborated:
“From both the teams, the Nos. 4 to 6 batsmen will score more runs than Nos. 1 to 3. You might think that this is a strange prediction but wickets fall with the new ball at Headingley. So, I feel Nos. 1 to 3 might struggle a little, and Nos. 4 to 6 might score more runs across the four innings.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator also feels that Indian bowlers will be on top of the wickets chart yet again. He said, “The Indian seamers, four of them will play, will average less than 25. That means, they will again be on top and will maintain the pressure.”
The Indian pacers have clinched 39 out of the 40 wickets fell in the two test matches. In fact, that one wicket too was a run-out of Mark Wood, or else perhaps all the 40 wickets would have been in the kitty of the impressive Indian pacers.
“Anderson will take the most wickets” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra predicts that Jimmy Anderson will be the biggest threat to India and that the Indian batsmen must tackle him well. He asserted, “Anderson to be the most successful English bowler. This looks like a slightly easy one because other than him no one seems like taking a wicket there. So I am thinking that if he bowls in both innings, Anderson will take the most wickets.”
The 43-year-old also reckons that the spinners will fare far well than they did in the first two tests. He explained this point further by saying, “Spinners to take five or more wickets. When you think about Headingley, you remember fast bowling. But I have some numbers which say that spinners have started taking quite a few wickets here. Moeen Ali, maybe Jaddu, and along with him Ashwin, we don’t know.”
Spinners have accounted for only 3 wickets till now, all struck by Moeen Ali. Surprisingly enough, “Jaddu” has been wicketless in the 44 overs he bowled till now. It should not be a matter of concern since the English conditions are never favorable enough for spinners.
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