Lord's Test is the biggest threat Team India is going to face: Brad Hogg

The first Test match between England and India didn’t have a result owing to rains lashing away the fifth day’s play at Trent Bridge. Both the teams go into the next Test match at Lord’s with few positives and negatives. While the visitors will be extremely happy with their bowling performance, the home team will be disappointed with their barring, which barring Joe Root, struggled big time.

India skipper Virat Kohli at the post-match conference hinted he will use the same template of four pacers and one spinner for time being in the remaining Test matches. While England skipper Root has hinted they might play all-rounder Moeen Ali in the second Test match as a specialist spinner.

Interestingly, England have used Ali at the top in few Tests matches due to his ability to change the momentum of the game. Cricketer-turned-expert Brad Hogg to feels, England will bring Ali in place of Dan Lawrence.

“Going into the Test match there are going to be changes I think England will want an extra all-rounder in their lineup they want to be able to give their bowlers a little bit more of rest with someone else bowling some spare overs so they’ll go in with a batting all-rounder in Moeen Ali. He’ll come in for Dan Lawrence, I don’t think they’ll change their top three other than that they’re pretty settled,” Hogg said on his YouTube Channel.

Hogg further opined that England lacked energy in the first Test match and, their batters failed to get going at Trent Bridge. “Now, if we look at that last Test match, England have to pick up a little bit of energy there because they only had one score over 30 in both innings and, they got bowled out twice. India only had a bat once they couldn’t afford that to let that happen they’re a better team than that and, on paper, India are a better team than England.”

Brad Hogg feels the Lord’s Test match is the biggest match of the series

Hogg concluded by saying that the second Test match between England and India is the most important match, and if the visitors win this match, then can probably whitewash England. “This particular Lord’s Test match is the biggest threat that they’re going to have in this series. If they win this Test, they’ve got a big chance of whitewashing England. If they lose this, well it’ll create a little bit of doubt and give England an opportunity to really get on top and take the series away from India. So for me, this is the biggest matchup or the biggest match of the series.” Hogg stated.