Former England cricketer makes huge claim on outcome of India vs England Test series

Monty Panesar has given his prediction for the ongoing Test series between India and England. After the huge win of England at Hyderabad in the 1st test, the former England spinner has made a huge claim on the outcome of the Test series. Monty has felt that if Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley can continue to do what they did in the first test, England could whitewash India.

“If Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley continue to play like this it will be a whitewash, it will be 5-0 for England. It can happen if Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley play like this,” said Monty Panesar in his statement. It is worth noting that both Pope and Hartley played key roles in England’s win in the first Test. As England conceded a lead of 190 runs in the 1st innings, the duo stepped up.

Both the individuals were not so good in the 1st innings. But they were the key performers in the 2nd innings and helped the visiting side to claim a huge win. While Pope scored 196 runs in the 2nd innings and brought England back in the game, Hartley claimed a 7-wicket haul in the 2nd innings and won the match for his side. Panesar claimed that the huge win was not anticipated by many.

‘If Virat Kohli was playing, he would have been in the faces of these England players’ – Monty Panesar

The former England spinner felt that people thought England to lose after the 190-run deficit in the first innings. He further claimed Rohit Sharma to be clueless and added that Ollie Pope played one of the greatest innings in a long time. Panesar further asked India to not give freedom to England players. Monty felt that things could have been different if Virat Kohli played the 1st Test.

“India need to stop giving the freedom that the England players are getting. If Virat Kohli was playing, he would have been in the faces of these England players and told them ‘Hey, do it again let’s see how good you are’,” added Panesar in his statement. The 2nd Test of the series will take place at Vizag.