India skipper Virat Kohli would ‘love’ to play County Cricket in 2018… to avoid another miserable tour of England
Superstar batsman averaged just 13, with a top score of 39, on tour of England in 2014 as he struggled to deal with conditions
VIRAT KOHLI says he would ‘love’ to play county cricket in 2018 to make sure he doesn’t endure another miserable tour of England.
The superstar Indian skipper plans to appear for a few weeks as preparation for his country’s tour in two years’ time.
Kohli explained: “I’d love to be there a month or month-and-a-half to get used to playing in the conditions and understand what the wickets play like in that phase of the year.
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“I think those things matter a lot and are crucial for a side.
“I have actually been thinking about it and trying to work out how I can make it happen.”
Kohli averaged just 13 – with a top score of 39 – on India’s tour of England in 2014 as he struggled to deal with the swinging and seaming ball.
His team-mate Cheteshwar Pujara has previously had spells with Derbyshire and Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, England skipper Alastair Cook insists he is not worried for James Anderson’s future – despite the Lancashire seamer’s fourth injury in 17 months meaning he will miss the Fifth Test in India.
Cook said: “I’m very confident Jimmy can play for another couple of years.
“It’s not just about him getting through, he can make a big contribution to English cricket.
“But I think we’re certainly going to have to manage him and that could mean missing a couple of Tests as a precaution.
“He’s a good friend and has an excellent cricket brain. He’s a very different person in private to what people see in public.
“He’s thinks a lot about the game, he’s a good sounding board.
“In fact, there are a lot of good thinkers in the dressing-room who give advice and Jimmy’s part of that.
“You can’t buy his experience. It’s valuable and we have to use it cleverly.
“But over the last few months he’s picked up niggles here and there.
“He has a few months off now which should allow his body to recover properly. He might fly again.
James Anderson: My View
JAMES ANDERSON might not be the world’s greatest fast bowler of the last 20 years but few have been more skilful.
He can swing and seam a cricket ball in both directions as well as deliver bouncers, yorkers and cutters.
They are talents that diminish only marginally with age. Anderson is not a young tearaway who relies on out-and-out speed although his ‘effort’ ball can still make batsmen hop around.
Some great fast bowlers – such as Dennis Lillee, Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee – have reduced pace and polished skills as they entered their 30s without becoming less effective.
Anderson is in that category. Nobody knows whether his body will hold up over the next year but, if he is on the field for the First Test at the Gabba on November 23, 2017, he will be a huge asset to England.
“He’s a very athletic guy, he’s light on his body and feet as a bowler.
“He’s not Freddie Flintoff, no disrespect, who pounded his body when bowling. Jimmy’s obviously a lot lighter and has a lot less wear and tear.
“He could possibly have got through this game but it’s not worth the risk.
“Jimmy still has fire in his belly, I know that from talking to him and looking into his eyes.”