Rotation Policy Could Hurt England In 'Immense, Box Office' India Series

Former captain David Gower has warned England risk scuppering their chances of winning an "immense, box-office" Test series in India by sticking rigidly to a player-rotation policy. Wicketkeeper-batsm

"Forget the World Test Championship for a moment, this is now as historic a series as any," said Gower, who led England to a 2-1 triumph in India in 1984/85.

"India-England is one of the flagstaff series, it's an immense series, a box-office series," added Gower, one of England's greatest batsmen who was answering questions from reporters.

"As a Test fan, I'm slightly annoyed England have already made plans for Jos Buttler to play the one Test match. Just as an Englishman, wanting England to do well in this series, you want the best players to be available for as much of it as possible."

England split up the longstanding pace pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad in Sri Lanka but Gower said it was "very evident" that the duo, who have more than 1,100 Test wickets between them, were still the team's best bowlers.

"As long as England pick their best XI, they will be competitive," he insisted.