This Indian knows every nook and corner of Durham, gave tips to play in England’s band, how will Gambhir drop this player?

New Delhi. The first match of the upcoming series between India and England is to be played at the Riverside Ground of Chester-le-Street, which is not only a historical ground of England but has also been the ‘home ground’ of a prominent Indian player. Indian team’s star all-rounder Axar Patel is well aware of the wind and pitch of this ground, as he has played for Durham County Cricket Club in the English domestic circuit.

This experience of county cricket and deep understanding of the conditions at Chester-le-Street can prove to be a big ‘X-factor’ for the Indian team in the very first match of this very important series. The home experience that Axar Patel has at this Durham ground will definitely help the captain and coach in making a perfect strategy against the England batsmen and bowlers.

Special connection of Riverside Ground and Akshar Patel

In the year 2018, Akshar Patel signed a contract with Durham County, under which he played many first-class matches for this club. The Chester-le-Street ground is not just a foreign venue for him, but a place where he has sweated for hours. Akshar not only understands the turn and bounce found on the pitches here, but is also adept in the art of how to control his length amid the strong and cold winds of England. On his county debut itself, he scored an unbeaten 95 runs with the bat and also did wonders with the ball. His all-round experience can play an important role in giving India the lead at the beginning of the series.

Only three Indian players playing from Durham

It is very interesting that in the rich history of Durham, till now only three Indian players have had the honor of representing this prestigious county team: Javagal Srinath: Former Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath joined Durham in the year 2003. He bowled excellent fast for the team and also announced his farewell to his first-class career on this Durham ground. Varun Aaron: Fast bowler Varun Aaron, known for his express pace, played for this club in the year 2014 and flaunted his speed on the helpful pitches here. Axar Patel: The third in this list and the only active member of the current Indian team is Axar Patel, who played brilliantly for Durham as a spin all-rounder in 2018.

How will Akshar’s experience be useful in the first match?

The conditions in England have always been challenging for the spinners of the subcontinent. The pitches there usually help fast bowlers and the ball swings a lot due to the wind. In such a situation, Akshar Patel’s experience can be useful for Team India. Akshar can predict when and how the Chester-le-Street pitch will behave better than other players. Having played county cricket, Akshar knows what pace and length to bowl overs to be successful in England. Akshar’s batting technique will help him handle the Indian tail batsmen in English conditions and add useful runs. When the Indian team takes the field for the first match of the series, this combination of history and experience can go in India’s favor.