LONDON: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has questioned the decision to include Pakistan batter Saim Ayub in the Test squad for the Edgbaston match after the left-hander was dismissed for ducks in both innings.
Hussain said Ayub should not have been selected for the Test after arriving from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) without having played first-class cricket for some time.
Speaking about the selection, the former England captain questioned the decision to bring a player from different playing conditions and expect him to immediately perform in English Test cricket.
Hussain Highlights Challenges of Test Cricket in England
Hussain said moving directly from another format and environment to facing the Duke ball, England’s bowling attack and Test conditions presented a significant challenge.
He argued that Test cricket requires a different level of preparation and adaptation, particularly for a top-order batter playing in England.
Hussain also referred to India’s Virender Sehwag, who was brought into England from different conditions in the past and struggled during one of his tours. He noted that Sehwag had considerably more experience than Ayub at the time.
Ayub was dismissed for zero in both innings of the Edgbaston Test, adding to questions surrounding his preparation and selection for the match.