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'Anderson Is Greatest, He Needed To Play' - Former Skipper Blames Ben Stokes & Management

image-lrvtrxrbAnderson was a surprising non-selection from England [X.com]

Nasser Hussain fumed over England's shocking selection for the first Test of the marquee series against India and lambasted the team management for leaving out their great fast-bowler James Anderson. 

The former skipper and veteran commentator reinforced Anderson's class and genius with the ball to suggest captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had erred massively with their choice of resources. 

Mistaking the balanced surface produced by the Hyderabad curator to be the one that would rag square from ball one, England loaded their side with three spinners, including two underdeveloped tweakers Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley, and picked Mark Wood as the only fast-bowling option. 

The strategy cost England dearly as the visitors were soon left depending on their batting great Joe Root's handy off-spin bowling for some control and leash on scoring while India piled on a lead of 190 after dismissing the tourists for 246 on Day 1. 


Hussain Slams England For Leaving Anderson 

Anderson's presence would've given England a more balanced combination where he could've combined with Wood in the pace department and helped ease the life of the spinners with his skillful bowling and timely breakthroughs. 

The great swing bowler has an impressive track record in the subcontinental conditions. The 41-year-old averages 26.78 with an economy rate of 2.53 over 28 Tests and 82 wickets taken in Asia, with 34 scalps in India at 29.32 runs apiece. 

"James Anderson's skills in the subcontinent have been exceptional in the last few years," Hussain told Sky Sports. "Anderson is quite a good player when he is the side. He is England's greatest ever bowler, he needed to play."

In Anderson's absence, England had no one to truly exploit the new-ball swing and the reverse swing seen in Hyderabad with Wood's utility to Stokes & company limited to small bursts. The pacer did bowl his 17 overs for 47 runs but took no wickets as India feasted against the spinners and made 436 in the first half.