NEW DELHI: Former England captain Michael Atherton believes that India's potent spin attack will secure the five-Test home series victory over Ben Stokes and company.
On Thursday, the first Test kicks out in Hyderabad. Instead of playing a tour game in India, England made the decision to prepare for the visit in Abu Dhabi.
Of the England team, only Jack Leach is an accomplished spinner; the other three are Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, and Rehan Ahmed. India have Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.
1/10:Top 10: Highest wicket-takers in India-England Tests
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2/10:James Anderson
<p>Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson leads the list with 139 wickets in 35 Test matches against India with a best of 5/20 and an average of 24.89.</p>Getty Images
3/10:Bhagwath Chandrasekhar
<p>Former leg-spin great Bhagwath Chandrasekhar took 95 wickets in 23 Tests against England with a best of 8/79 and an average of 27.27. </p>Getty Images
4/10:Anil Kumble
<p>Leg-break genius Anil Kumble comes next with 92 wickets from 19 Tests with a best of 7/115 and an average of 30.59. </p>TNN
5/10:Ravichandran Ashwin
<p>Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 88 wickets from 19 Tests with a best of 6/55 and an average of 28.59. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Bishan Singh Bedi
<p>The late Bishan Singh Bedi is next in the list with 85 scalps from 22 Tests with a best of 6/71 and an average of 29.87. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Kapil Dev
<p>India's greatest fast bowler ever Kapil Dev comes next with 85 wickets in 27 Tests with a best of 6/91 and an average of 37.34. </p>Getty Images
8/10:Stuart Broad
<p>Veteran England pacer Stuart Broad has taken 74 wickets in 24 Tests with a best of 6/25 and an average of 28.51.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Ishant Sharma
<p>Ishant Sharma comes next with 67 wickets in 23 Tests with a best of 7/74 and an average of 32.40. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Bob Willis
<p>The late Bob Willis took 62 wickets from 17 Tests with a best of 6/53 and an average of 23.24. </p>Getty Images"I think India will win. Their spinners are better than England's and that will be the defining thing in the end," Atherton told Sky Sports.
England last won a series in India back in 2012 when Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar outbowled their Indian counterparts.
"If you go to India, spin will play a big part, it historically has done and I suspect it always will do. India do have a very strong seam attack as well," said Atherton.
"India's four spinners are very different to England's. They have two left-arm finger spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. They have a wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners of all time.
1/10:Top 10: Most hundreds in India-England Tests
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2/10:Joe Root
<p>Former England captain Joe Root leads the list with 9 hundreds against India in 25 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
3/10:Rahul Dravid
<p>Former batting great and current India coach Rahul Dravid comes next with 7 hundreds against England in 21 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
4/10:Sachin Tendulkar
<p>The great Sachin Tendulkar comes next with 7 hundreds against England in 32 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
5/10:Alastair Cook
<p>Former England captain Alastair Cook scored 7 centuries against India in 30 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Mohammad Azharuddin
<p>Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin comes next with 6 centuries against England in 15 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
7/10:Kevin Pietersen
<p>Kevin Pietersen, who played a stellar role in England's last Test series win in India, scored 6 tons against India in 16 Test matches. </p>TNN
8/10:Ian Botham
<p>One of the greatest all-rounders Ian Botham comes next with 5 hundreds against India in 14 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Graham Gooch
<p>Former England captain Graham Gooch scored 5 hundreds against India in 19 Test matches.</p>Getty Images
10/10:Dilip Vengsarkar
<p>Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar comes next with 5 centuries against England in 26 Test matches.</p>Getty Images"England have a solid left-arm spinner in Jack Leach and then three very inexperienced spinners after that with Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed.
"It will be a particular challenge for them but the selectors see a high ceiling for them," he added.
The pitches are expected to turn from day one in India, providing a massive test also for the England batters.
(With PTI inputs)
