“England are favorites to beat India at home” - Former captain makes massive statement after 1-3 loss in BGT 2024-25
Former England captain Michael Atherton has made a stunning prediction for five-Test match series against India at home later this year. With Ben Stokes and Co. also set to play an away Ashes series this year, the ex-opener reckons the tourists can dream to win in Australia as well.
The Englishmen managed to escape with a 2-2 draw the last time a home series took place against India. They haven't won an Ashes series since 2015 and last won a Test in Australia in 2011, with the two most recent legs at home resulting in a draw.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Atherton stated:
"I think England are favorites to beat India at home. For the Ashes, you have to say Australia are favourites - because very few England teams have won and regained the Ashes Down Under - but, for the first time since 2010/11, I'm relatively optimistic."
The Englishmen's last series win in Australia came in the 2010-11 leg. Former opener and captain Sir Alastair Cook put on a herculean effort, accumulating 766 runs in five Tests to help them achieve a landmark win.
"Both sides' batting looks vulnerable" - Michael Atherton on England's chances against India and Australia
Atherton feels the Englishmen can take massive cues from the recent series between India and Australia, mainly them being prone to batting collapses. The veteran commentator reckons Australia's line-up of yesteryears would hardly collapse like now.
"From an England perspective, I felt that they would have taken some encouragement… from both sides, actually. Both sides' batting looks vulnerable. Australia struggled as well; Usman Khawaja at the top, Smith got two hundreds but didn't quite seem like the player he was, and Labuschagne really struggled. Mitch Marsh was dropped, and [Alex] Carey looked vulnerable to the ball coming back into him."
"Unlike perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, when we were playing - and you'd look down the Aussie line-up and think, 'how are we going to get 20 wickets here?' - I can see an avenue for England, if their bowlers are fit, where there might be some possibilities," he added.
The five-Test series between India and Australia saw the latter come out on top with a 3-1 win. Although India's Jasprit Bumrah finished as the leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps, the tourists' frequent batting collapses hurt them.