India vs England: India's spinners will play a big part in upcoming Test series, feels Michael Atherton

Former England cricketer Michael Atherton believes India’s spinners will play a big part and could be key to the hosts in their bid to win the upcoming Test series against England. India have announced a spin-heavy squad for the first two Tests against England, with the first Test starting in Hyderabad on 25 January. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav make India’s spin bowling attack. The pitches for the upcoming Tests are expected to offer a lot of turn that will assist the spinners immensely.

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“I think India will win. Their spinners are better than England’s and that will be the defining thing in the end. If you go to India, spin will play a big part, it historically has done and I suspect it will always do. India do have a very strong seam attack as well,” Atherton told on Sky Sports.

“India’s four spinners are very different to England’s. They have two left-arm finger spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. They have a wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners of all time,” he added.

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Atherton feels England will face a challenge against India with their spin attack being led by Jack Leach. “England have a solid left-arm spinner in Jack Leach and then three very inexperienced spinners after that with Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed. It will be a particular challenge for them, but the selectors see a high ceiling for them,” added the 55-year-old.

England’s previous Test series win on Indian soil came in 2012, when Alastair Cook and Co came from behind to win the four-match series 2-1.