'Rishabh Pant smashing century while Buttler is in hotel room isn't right' - Nasser Hussain questions England's rotation policy timing

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has questioned England’s rotation policy in the wake of the team’s humiliating 1-3 defeat in the Test series against India. The visitors had started the series on a stunning note by winning the first game by 227 runs. But since then things went only downhill for them as India thoroughly outplayed them in all the remaining three games.

And despite the results not going their way, the England team-management stuck with their rotation policy and kept resting players throughout the series. After the first game, they rested veteran James Anderson despite his five-wicket haul in the first Test. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler was also rested for the last three games.

Jonny Bairstow was rested for the first two Tests after impressing in the two-Test series win in Sri Lanka in January. And the right-handed batsman failed to gain any momentum in India, making three ducks in four innings after returning to action. All-rounder Moeen played the second Test, which was his first in 18 months, before leaving for his scheduled period of rest.

The issue is when you rotate: Nasser Hussain

With England’s rotation policy becoming a major talking point after the defeat in India, Nasser Hussain has also weighed in with his views. Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, Hussain said that he understands the reasons behind the policy, but questioned the manner it was implemented. He opined that England did not give themselves the best chance to compete because of the rotation policy.

“England’s biggest problem has not been selection or rest and rotation. It is a schedule that has given them 17 Tests, iconic tours of India and Australia, the Twenty20 World Cup and two IPLs in little more than a year. That is ridiculous,” Hussain wrote.

“So I agree with and understand the ECB looking after their players. They have a duty of care to them and they have done the right thing in having a policy that considers their mental health. But the issue is when you rotate and, as I’ve said before, this would not have been the time to rotate for me. In golfing terms, a Test series in India is one of your majors. England did not give themselves the best chance to compete by rotating now.

“Rishabh Pant smashing it all around Ahmedabad while Jos Buttler — an England player capable of doing the same thing — is sitting in a hotel room in the same city, being rested ahead of the white-ball matches, just doesn’t look right,” he added. “Don’t get me wrong. Every reason a player has missed any part of this winter’s cricket has been a very valid one. But every decision you make as a player has repercussions down the line. They do have to take responsibility for their decisions,” Hussain added.