Indian veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has termed English batting ‘weak’ which, according to him, is vulnerable to both pace and spin bowling.
The 38-year-old cricketer is currently in England as a commentator in the ongoing Test series and feels that the hosts are not putting up heir hundred per cent. He backed India to clinch the five-Test series after their dominating 203-run win in the third Test in Nottingham.
“The English batting line-up looks more problematic than the Indian batting at the moment. They are playing as if they are touring India, and not the other way round,” Harbhajan told PTI.
"Their batting line-up is more vulnerable to both pace and spin, and they look weak. Some of their first-choice batsmen have an ordinary record in domestic cricket, averaging 30-35 at best. In India, you have to average over 50 to be even considered. They have good depth in ODI cricket but in Tests, their batting has not done much," he added.
Harbhajan feels the Indian team copped a lot of unnecessary flak after going down 0-2, but now at 1-2, the series is still wide open.
"It is not easy to come and play in England. You cannot say that previous Indian teams did better here. Apart from 2007, when did we last win a series in England? We tend to over-react easily and criticise too early," he said.
Harbhajan, who has taken 417 wickets in 103 Tests, feels conditions will favour India at Oval Test and the visitors might think of playing two spinners.
“After such a performance I back India to win the next Test in Southampton, and then anything can happen in the Oval Test. At the Oval, we could get a true Indian wicket with a lot of bounce and lateral movement is less there as well," he said.
"So, conditions could favour India and we could even play two spinners. I think India have a very good chance (of winning the series 3-2)."