How England play Ashwin will decide the Test series: Monty Panesar

Ravichandran Ashwin was one of the prime architects of India’s win in Australia. The off-spinner took the challenge of playing away from home conditions head on and aced it, particularly against one of the greatest batsmen of this era Steve Smith. Now all eyes will be on him once again as England take on India in the Test series. The conditions will suit Ashwin way more and England will be wary of Ashwin.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar thinks that the result of the Test series will depend on how England batsmen manage to play out the Indian offie.

Panesar, while talking to Times of India, suggested that Ashwin will be loaded with confidence heading into the Test series.

“Ashwin had a great tour of Australia and will come into the series with tons of confidence. How England play Ashwin will decide the outcome of the series. Ashwin has become smarter with the way he has bowled in recent times and is in prime form,” Panesar said.

However, Panesar was quick to add that Ashwin will need support from the other end in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja whose recent record has been nothing less than phenomenal.

“Jadeja will be missed. The second spinner will be crucial for India as Ashwin will need support from the other end to put England under pressure. They have named Axar Patel in the squad but I do believe that Jadeja adds a different dimension to the Indian team,” added Panesar.

As far as England are concerned, captain Joe Root will once again have to be at his best for the tourists to do well in the series.

“If England are to have a chance of winning the series, Root will have to bat well. He needs to bat for long periods of time just like Alastair Cook did during the 2012-13 series. He has been brilliant in Sri Lanka and I do hope Root continues batting in the same way against India,” concluded the 38-year-old.