NEW DELHI: Former Australian cricketers
Brad Haddin
and
Tim Paine
have weighed in on England's performance in the ongoing Test series against India, offering insights into the challenges posed by the absence of key Indian players.
In light of England trailing 1-3 in the series and facing a daunting task in the 5th Test at Dharamsala, Haddin and Paine emphasized the competitive nature of the matches despite the series score not accurately reflecting it.
Captain
Ben Stokes
, England's star all-rounder, aptly pointed out the closely contested battles, reminiscent of India's 2018 tour of England, where
Virat Kohli
's side faced a similar 1-4 result.
"Win, lose, or draw… irrespective of what the outcome is in Dharamsala, the one thing Ben Stokes got right in the series is his statement that the scoreline doesn't reflect how competitive the series has been," noted Paine.
Haddin praised Stokes's tactical prowess in leading a young English spin attack but pointed out the context of India's depleted squad.
He remarked, "It sounded like a thinly veiled sledge, didn't it? You can't fault Ben Stokes because he has been magnificent tactically in this series."
Acknowledging the absence of key Indian players, Haddin added, "But he has been playing against the Indian B team because there has been no Kohli, no Shami, Bumrah got rested last Test, KL Rahul is out and
Rishabh Pant
is still making his way back from that accident."
Paine, who experienced defeat against a similar Indian "B team" during the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, concurred with Haddin's sentiments.
"Yeah, I think Katich has absolutely nailed it. I totally agree with him and I know what it's like to be beaten by an Indian B team," said Paine.
Highlighting the impact of missing key players like Kohli, Shami, and Bumrah, Paine remarked, "Unfortunately, it happened to us on our home soil. But yes, some huge names are out for India, which should have certainly helped the English."
Both cricketers commended England's approach and style of play, acknowledging their entertainment value despite their struggles in the series.
"I love watching them lose. Don't get me wrong but they are entertaining and exciting. They have been for Test cricket," added Paine.
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