England can't use the Motera pitch as an excuse for the 10-wicket defeat: Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain believes that the third Test's pitch fell short of offering a fair bout between the bat and ball.

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Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain

According to Nasser Hussain, England could not use the pitch as an excuse for the defeat against India. Unfamiliar scenes unfolded in Ahmedabad as the pink-ball Test concluded within two days. Spinners of both sides, including Joe Root, scalped around 28 in the entire game.

Hussain also reckoned that irrespective of the discussions enfolding several intangibles, the visitors lost the game because of their awful batting collapse in the first innings. The entire England team bundled out for 112 in their first innings on a track that assisted spinners. The Indian batsmen also struggled. The Men in Blue collapsed from a powerful position of 99 for 3 to 145 in the first session. England skipper Joe Root picked up his maiden five-wicket haul.

England then was dismantled after scoring only 81 in their second innings. The team lasted just 30.4 overs, with all of their ten batsmen falling to spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel. Rohit Sharma (25*) and Shubman Gill (15*) knocked off the 49-run target in just 7.4 overs to win the game. With the victory, team India is leading the series 2-1. The hosts are also getting back into contention for a spot in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Axar Patel’s accuracy is mind-boggling: Nasser Hussain

Axar Patel, who made his Test debut in the second Test at Chennai, claimed 11 wickets in the pink-ball Test. Playing at his home turf, Patel got the ball to spin and glide from the same point, forming doubts in the opposition's minds. Nasser Hussain praised Axar Patel's accuracy and stated that the England batsmen's lack of application against him was the reason for their horrible defeat. Patel is on a dream run as has scalped 18 wickets in his first two Tests averaging 9.44. The fourth and ultimate Test of the series between will start on March 4th.

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Ravichandran Ashwin Joe Root Axar Patel Nasser Hussain