Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has likened the ongoing India-England Test series to the historic Ashes series in 2005. The series has seen three Test matches so far, with each of them producing a result.
England won the first Test by five wickets. India won the second Test by a mammoth 336-run margin and England kept their nerves to win the third by 22 runs. Meanwhile, tempers flared a lot in the third Test with a tussle between Zak Crawley and Shubman Gill and then again between Mohammed Siraj and Ben Duckett.
Given how the Test series has panned out so far, Hussain said that there are implications of this series and the 2005 Ashes series between Australia and England. He praised Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj’s resistance as they almost took India to a victory at Lord’s.
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Lord's Brough Vivid Memories Back Of Edgbaston 2005 - Nasser Hussain
"You have got it as the next 2005 Ashes." The tight finish at Lord’s - where India fell short by 22 runs despite Ravindra Jadeja’s heroics and Mohammed Siraj’s gritty resistance - brought back vivid memories of the Edgbaston epic from 2005. Then, too, the Test ended with heartbreak for the visitors and a quiet show of sportsmanship between battered warriors” said Hussain.
He also criticised the ICC for slapping a fine on Md Siraj for his send-off against Ben Duckett. Hussain said that players are not robots and a slight alteraction adsd to the tension and the drama of the contest.
“Then, Siraj was fired up. I think he's a better cricketer when he's fired up. You'd love to have Siraj on the side. I didn't think he should've been fined. He went close to the line, he was right in Duckett's face, he didn't barge (at) Duckett. If anything, Duckett went in that direction to get off the pitch. It wasn't a shoulder barge. I think it's a game of emotions, and you don't need 22 robots. I love the tension,” Hussain told Sky Sports Cricket.
Incidentally, it was Mohammed Siraj who was the last wicket to fall for India on day five at Lord’s. He played 30 balls and scored four runs allowing Jadeja to score from the other end. He was heartbroken after his dismissal as the ball tricked and disturbed his left bail leaving the Indian team and the fans in agony.
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India Winless In Manchester
The fourth Test starts from July 23 with India needing a win to level the series. They need to win back-to-back Tests to win the series. Incidentally, India have never won a Test match in Manchester.
