After hammering in 1st Test, England might drop Adil Rashid in next game, feels Nasser Hussain

England were clearly favourites in their Test series in Windies, ranked much lower in the ICC’s list, but they were shocked in the first Test in Bridgetown as a superior home side humbled them by 381 runs. The visitors were completely outplayed in all departments by an energised Caribbean side which also bowled them out for just 77 in their first innings of the match.

As predicted, the critical focus has shifted back on Joe Root’s men who have played some excellent cricket in the longer format in the recent past. The third-ranked Test team in the world now could see undergoing some change in the crucial second match of the series in North Sound starting January 31.

Adil Rashid went without a wicket in first Test

One of the changes England might see is the dropping of spinner Adil Rashid in the second game, feels former captain Nasser Hussain. Rashid went wicketless in 26 overs that he bowled in the match, conceding 117 runs. The Windies batsmen particularly targeted him in the second innings in which he went for 61 runs from nine overs. The other England spinner Moeen Ali did far better with four wickets in the match.

Windies spinner Roston Chase was another successful spinner in the game, taking 8 wickets for 60 runs in the second essay after not bowling in the first. Hussain felt Rashid was under-bowled on Day 3 and then Chase took an eight-for on Day 4. The former cricketer felt Jack Leach could be one replacing Rashid in the next game.

“There is a question about Rashid. [Joe] Root only bowled him for seven overs on day three and then Windies’ part-time spinner [Roston Chase] gets 8/60 on day four. Leach is more at you all the time, so they might go for him over Rashid,” Hussain was quoted as saying to Sky Sports.

Leach, 27, has played four Tests so far after making debut in March last year. In four games, he has picked up 20 scalps.

In the batting department, opener Keaton Jennings has been struggling since scoring a century in Sri Lanka in November. He managed 17 and 14 in Bridgetown. Hussain said the batsman has been vulnerable but felt lack of options to replace him could see him continuing in the side. Joe Denly and Jason Roy are the other names to consider for but Hussain felt they are not in consideration yet for varying reasons.

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