‘Absurd mentality of English cricket’: Former England cricketer hilariously trolled for calling India Tests ‘heat-up for the Ashes’ | Cricket News – Times of India

India vs England (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former England spinner Graeme Swann has stirred up controversy forward of the a lot-anticipated five-Test sequence between India and England, calling the conflict a “perfect warm-up for the Ashes.” His feedback, which have been meant to galvanise Ben Stokes’s facet, have as a substitute drawn widespread criticism from followers and pundits who see them as a disrespectful downplay of India’s stature in world cricket.Set to start on June 20 at Headingley, the sequence marks England’s return to Test motion after a lacklustre World Test Championship marketing campaign. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Swann steered the dwelling sequence may function a confidence builder for England earlier than their journey Down Under later this 12 months. However, critics argue that treating a heavyweight encounter towards India, ranked amongst the high Test sides, as mere preparation for the Ashes displays a slender and outdated mindset.“It’s kind of a perfect warm-up for the Ashes series. India is a huge series,” Swann advised Sky Sports Cricket.“Last 2-3 times, we have gone to India, and we were thoroughly outplayed. So, in our own backyard, our home turf, we need to beat India. We need to play well.“They don’t have Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, their two superstars with the bat. Yes, they’ve got great players coming up instead, but we’ve got bowlers who exploit our conditions well. England must look to win this series. I will take 4-1, 3-2 at best. I hope we do well and get the confidence moving into the Ashes.”Following these comments, Swann faced heavy backlash on social media.India, under Shubman Gill’s leadership, have arrived in Leeds with a potent mix of emerging and experienced players. Young pacer Harshit Rana has been added to the squad, further bolstering India’s pace attack. Having previously represented India A, Rana is expected to be a valuable asset on English pitches.

The Indian team had a brief tune-up in the form of an intra-squad game against India A, offering key players like KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal some much-needed match practice.As the first Test approaches, Swann’s comments continue to spark debate. For many, it’s a stark reminder of how English cricket, at times, clings to its Ashes-centric worldview, often to the detriment of appreciating world-class contests like India vs England.