Former England batsman and coach says upcoming series will be battle between two top spinners
Former England batsman and coach says upcoming series will be battle between two top spinners
Behind the fun, and games, there's a very serious man in David Lloyd.
England haven't beaten India in a Test series since 1996. And the former England batsman and coach reckons they won't be a contender to challenge India for the Numero Uno spot unless they beat them in their own backyard.
India offie Harbhajan Singh
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England's Graeme Swann
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Excerpts from an interview with the former Test opener.
Is it right to hail the upcoming India-England series as being a battle for world supremacy in Tests?
No doubt it should be a great series between the two best Test teams in the world, with India ranked No 1 in the world at the moment. It's always difficult to win away from home, and if India win the series, they will be far away as the best team in world cricket. As far as England are concerned, they will have to win to move to No 2. Their big challenge will be to win a series in India ufffd something they haven't done for long.
Do you see Graeme Swann playing a big role in the series? India are usually great players of spin bowling.
Having seen him bowl closely in the last few years, I feel Graeme Swann is a fabulous bowler. I look at this series as a shoot-out between Swann and Harbhajan Singh. It needs big runs from the batsmen in the first innings, and then the spinners will get to work. There will be some spin from the pitches over the course of the four Tests.
You've brought in so much humour to Live Cricket with your witty comments on air. Do you ever 'practice' to be entertaining?
Honestly, I am just myself on commentary. Everything I say and do is spontaneous, and comes
naturally. I like having a bit of fun but also know when to be serious.
Are you worried people will never take you seriously (even when you're talking serious cricket)?
People have to take you as you are. There will be folks who think I am hopeless but as my old dad used to say: "just be yourself".
In a nutshell, what goes on in the world of Bumble (his nickname)?
I'm an uncomplicated chap. I don't care for a fancy lifestyle.
I enjoy football, fishing, golf and going to the pub. That's mostly it.
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