IND vs ENG: Nasser Hussain questions James Anderson's omission from 1st Test - 'He gives you control'

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IND vs ENG: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has questioned James Anderson's omission from the first Test in Hyderabad, saying that the veteran pacer would have given control to the visitors.

The 41-year-old was left out of England's playing eleven for the first Test as England opted to play with four spinners and a pacer. Mark Wood got place as the only pacer, as the likes of Anderson and Ollie Robinson were overlooked.

"I said before the game, I would have played Anderson. I was a bit surprised at the balance of the side because with Root in India it is four spinners and one seamer," Hussain told Sky Sports.

"Anderson gives you control. It doesn't even have to be him, it can be (Ollie) Robinson, just another seamer," he added.

Anderson has picked up 34 wickets in India at an average of 29.32. In Asia, he has featured in 28 Test matches and picked 82 wickets at an average of 26.78. He is just 10 wickets away from becoming only the third bowler and first pacer to pick 700 Test wickets.

Hussain praised Anderson - 'England's greatest ever bowler', but also explained why England went with one pacer. Hussain reckoned that uncertainty over Leach's fitness, and inexperience of the other spinners were the two key reasons for England opting to go with just one pacer.

"Anderson's skills in the sub-continent has been exceptional in the last few years. Anderson is a quite a good player when he is in the side. He is England's greatest ever bowler.

"I understood why they have done it. You've got Jack Leach who hasn't bowled since May or June because of his stress fractures and then you have a debutant and someone playing in their second Test match.

"They may have been concerned about how much you can bowl Leach in that game. So, if you just go for the second spinner and they don't get it right, you are left in a tricky position," Hussain further added.

After getting bowled out for 246 in their first innings, England bowlers failed to drag their team back to the match as India piled up 421 for seven for a lead of 175 runs. Ravindra Jadeja is approaching his fourth Test hundred.