‌Win up north and India can win in England, believes Matthew Hayden

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Matthew Hayden has asserted that if India can win one of the Test matches in northern England, the Men in Blue have a chance of winning the upcoming series against England. Hayden also highlighted the lack of quality bowlers in the English team as a major reason for India having an edge.

India will begin the new WTC cycle in England on June 20, in a five match series. With matches spread all across the country, Hayden has highlighted Leeds and Manchester as the key games for India if they want to win in England. While India have not won a game in Manchester in nine attempts, they do have a couple of wins in Leeds - the last one coming in 2002.

“The northern Test matches when it’s zipping around that will be key, win that one and it could well be a series that goes India’s way,” Hayden said while talking on JioHotstar, reported The Indian Express.

Hayden also expressed that England were there for the taking as they lacked “quality bowlers”. Since James Anderson retired from Test cricket in July last year, England have deployed 10 different fast bowlers to mixed results. With no consistent replacement for the reliable Anderson-Broad duo, and some injuries mounting for the hosts, Hayden believes India stand a chance of winning their first series in England for the first time since 2007.

“I don’t think England bowlers are that good, they have got a number of injuries and a number of retirees as well, that will be the challenge,” Hayden said on JioHotstar.

India will play five Tests in England to begin their WTC campaign with the first Test beginning on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.