'England probably won't need James Anderson for second Test'
Monday 14 November 2016 14:57, UK
England need not rush recovering seamer James Anderson back for the second Test against India, says Nasser Hussain.
Anderson, on the mend after a stress fracture of his right shoulder blade, told Sky Sports on day one of the drawn first Test that he is hopeful of returning to action in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
But with only two days of practice scheduled before the next Test - and with England's spinners having acquitted themselves well in the series opener - Hussain says the tourists should not make changes for the sake of it.
"England are going to need their three spinners in the second Test - they probably won't need Jimmy Anderson," the former England captain told Sky Sports.
"I can see the same side being played. I can't see any reason to change the side and then maybe Jimmy Anderson comes in for the game after in Mohali.
"From what we hear, Visakhapatnam, from ball one will spin; it won't be ridiculous spin like Dhaka or Chittagong but conditions will be completely different from here.
"From what we've seen so far here, England should be well equipped to cope with that. The way that Adil Rashid bowled was absolutely magnificent.
"India said before the game that they weren't going to take England lightly because England have won the last three series against them.
"But they must realise now that their recent series against New Zealand and South Africa are a little bit irrelevant. They have areas of concern."
In contrast, Rashid's upturn in form coupled with 113 runs on debut from opener Haseeb Hameed have helped to boost England in the wake of their 1-1 series draw with Bangladesh.
Hussain told Sky Sports after day four that Hameed already looks like he belongs at Test level and, after the contest was over, said the 19-year-old will only benefit from batting with Alastair Cook.
"England have tried a string of opening combinations since Andrew Strauss' retirement but it looks as though they've found a partner for Cook in Hameed - but it is only one game.
"He answered his questions in the post-match interview as if he'd been around for years. He is unflappable, he is very calm.
"It did him some good not playing on the two pitches in Bangladesh because he might have been wrongly assessed.
"Instead he's been around the set-up for a while and the team has taken to him. Hameed knows what he wants in the nets and guys like that generally go on and have good careers.
"He'll learn from Cook - he's got the greatest master he could wish for at the other end - but he'll do it his way."
Watch the second Test between India and England at Visakhapatnam live on Sky Sports 2 from 3.30am on Thursday. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
