Axar Patel opined that having spinners who can bat would provide a huge advantage to India in England

Axar Patel is a left-arm spinner in the Indian team. He stated that having spinners who can bat would provide some advantage to the Indian team. He gave the statement keeping India’s long tour of England in mind.

Axar Patel is part of the squad that would go to the England tour. The team would first face New Zealand in the World Test Championship final. Then the Indian team is scheduled to play a five-test series against England. The other spinners who would travel to England are R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.

In an interview, Patel observed that having spinners who can bad would be of huge advantage in England. R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel himself can bat. Washington Sundar too is good with the bat as well as the ball like the rest of them. If a team has a batting order where the players can bat till number 8 or 9, then it can beat any other team.

Axar Patel further stressed the contribution of a spinner in places like England or Australia.

In India, the slow bowlers are usually in the attacking mode. But in nations like England and Australia, the pacers are given more importance. They are undoubtedly become the attacking option for the team. Still, spinners have a role to play in these nations. The spinners need to ensure that the match is tight and the pressure on the opponent does not lessen. It is thereby important for a spinner to understand that role and adjust accordingly.

In England, the game will be played using Dukes balls

The India – England series held in India was played using SG balls. However, in England, the match has to be played using Duke's ball. The bowlers would have to adjust accordingly. It is not a matter of major concern as it would aid the bowler more. Dukes balls very useful for bowlers as it makes the seam more pronounced. It is nothing worthy to ponder upon. It’s like the pink-ball Test. When a team plays the pink ball Test, it has to move from red–ball to pink-ball. The adjustment is just there in our heads. If the bowler's rhythm is good then not many adjustments need to be made. The changes that have to be made are usually in the mind.

Axar Patel’s debut Test against England was impressive. In three Tests, he took 27wicketst at an average of 10.59.

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