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'We have lord Thakur' - Fans react as Nasser Hussain says India needs Ben Stokes or Mitchell Marsh-type cricketer to succeed in overseas Tests

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said India need someone like Ben Stokes or Mitchell Marsh to succeed in overseas Tests.

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Daniel S
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Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain (Source: Twitter)

India have been doing remarkably well in Test cricket at home for the past few years. In fact, no other team has even come close to India's success at home in the last decade. Analysing the outcomes of Team India's domestic outings over the last few years, they have won 32 of their 42 Tests, drawn seven of them, and lost only three - two against Australia and one against England.

One of the primary reasons for the Men in Blue's success at home has been their spin all-rounders, who have excelled on India's spin-friendly pitches and have contributed significantly in batting in the lower order. However, this could be also a key factor in India's not-so-impressive performance in the overseas Tests. Only one of the trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel often gets the nod on most occasions in away matches and this affects their batting performances.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has similar thoughts, with the right-hander opining that India are a good home side but they lack a bit of balance in overseas Tests.

"They (India) are brilliant at home... and the balance of their side at home is just wonderful. they've got those senior players and youngsters, and with the ball in India, those three all-rounders, and they are genuine all-rounders in India -- Axar (Patel), (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Ravichandran) Ashwin. That, for me, is a really balanced side because then you've got a No.7 (in Test cricket)," the 55-year-old said.

Hardik would've been perfect if he had stayed fit: Hussain

Hussain highlighted that India needs a proper pace-bowling all-rounder like Ben Stokes, Cameron Green or Mitchell Marsh to excel in overseas conditions. He asserted that a batter who could bowl 10 overs would turn India's fortunes around in away Tests and make them a formidable team.

"A cricketer India need at the moment is a (Ben) Stokes-type cricketer, a Cameron Green-type cricketer, a Mitchell Marsh-type cricketer, a batter at No.6 or No.7, away from home, that can bowl you 10 or 15 overs of genuine wicket-taking seam and swing, not a bowler who bats a bit, a batter who can give you 10 overs of seam bowling, and then that balance away from home makes them (India) formidable," Hussain said.

"It's away from home and the balance of the side and if they (India) can get a seam bowling all-rounder. Hardik (Pandya) would've been perfect if Hardik had stayed fit and continued that process," he added.

Here's how fans reacted to Nasser Hussain's statement: 

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