Anderson will trouble Kohli again: McGrath

Virat Kohli is a far more experienced player than what he was during his nightmarish tour of England in 2014 but Aussie great Glenn McGrath cautioned that an in-form Jimmy Anderson could make things tougher for the Indian captain this time too.

Bowl a couple of in-swingers and then follow it up with a series of away going deliveries starting at the fourth stump and ending up around the fifth stump at a length that is neither drivable nor comfortable when you are in backfoot. England fast bowlers, James Anderson in particular made one of the best players of the world Virat Kohli dance to their tunes four years ago  with this ploy, crippling India’s chances of England a run for their money in a five-match Test series.

If Aussie great Glenn McGrath is to be believed then then an in-form Jimmy Anderson could create the same scenario and in fact make things tougher for the Indian captain this time.

"Kohli is a more experienced player now. Quality player, no doubt about that. But English conditions are very tough. When you have got a bowler like Jimmy Anderson, who is bowling well now, it is going to be hard work. You got to be prepared to work hard. Kohli is a quality player so I am looking forward to that contest," McGrath told mediapersons during an interaction.

Anderson got Kohli out four times in his 10 innings in England in 2014, troubling him in the corridor of uncertainty with the away movement. Not that Kohli fared any better against the other English fast bowlers, with a highest score of 39 in five Tests, Kohli had nightmarish tour of England, the last time India went there.

McGrath made it clear it will be foolhardy only depend on Kohli and in case he fails, it will give other players to raise their hands up.

“You always want your best batsman performing. However, it also gives another batsmen a chance to put his hand up and there are still some quality batsmen there, some quality players there. If India are really depending on one player, they have got it wrong," he added.

While Cheteshwar Pujara didn't have a great run during the four-day games in England, the mere experience will prove to be handy, according to McGrath. 

“I have not seen what the conditions are like in the UK.  Pujara, even though he hasn't got runs, he will be there. Just being used to the conditions, I think that will help him," he opined.

About the bowling department, McGrath is confident that speedsters Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah will make a mark.

When asked who among Indian pacers could do the job in England, McGrath said:"Bhuvi and Bumrah. They have got pretty good control. That's what you need, especially in England. The Dukes ball has a pronounced seam. If you get the ball in the right areas consistently, then you are going to do well. The ball will do a little bit, so yeah, they will do well."

Adaptability is the key, said one of Australia's finest fast bowler.

"I think a lot of it depends on how the players adapt. You got to adapt a lot quicker these days. During my time, we used to get a couple of tour matches. They will have to adjust and adapt quicker. Obviously, there aren't enough tour matches to really get used to the conditions. They will just have to rely on past experience," McGrath said.

India’s England tour will start with three T20Is and as many ODIs followed by a five-match Test series starting from August 1.