Lack Of Seam Bowling All-Rounder Sets India Back In England

India are likely to fret over the lack of a seam bowling all-rounder in their squad ahead of the Test series next month in England, a country where players with the ability to bat and bowl medium pace can turn out to be match winners and match savers, as seen in the past.

With all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja coming a cropper in the World Test Championship (WTC) final - his spin not getting help from the pitch and he failed with the bat as well - the focus is back on the lack of balance due to the absence of a seam bowling all-rounder.

Both New Zealand (who India lost to in the WTC final) and England have riches in the department. The Kiwis had Colin de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson in the WTC final whereas England have the likes of Ben Stokes, Sam Curran and Chris Wokes to choose from.

Unfortunately for India, their only seam bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not yet fit to bowl and has therefore been left out of the squad. He is currently with the limited-overs squad in Sri Lanka. At best, India can try Mumbai player Shardul Thakur who scored a half-century and picked wickets in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Brisbane.

"A seam-bowling all-rounder brings a lot of balance to a squad overseas, especially in England. If you have a bowling all-rounder - say like Kapil Dev - he will get you wickets and score 40-50 runs, maybe even a 100. Those 40-50 runs can mean a partnership of 100," said former India seam-bowling all-rounder Madan Lal, who was part of India's 1983 World Cup-winning squad.

"India need a seam bowling all-rounder. I think Hardik Pandya needs to bowl if he has to make it and that can make a difference," he added.

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