Citing Kohli’s example, Hussain urges Denly to tinker with his technique

Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels current batsman Joe Denly will have to change his technique in order to score big runs or else he could lose his spot in the team.

Denly faced 58 deliveries in the first innings of the opening Test against the West Indies and was comprehensively castled for 18 by Shannon Gabriel at the Ageas Bowl.

Denly, in the past, has been guilty of failing to convert his starts into big scores. Before the Southampton Test, he failed to hit a single hundred in the 14 Tests that he played for 'The Three Lions'. He, however, has so far scored six fifties in the longest format.

"Perhaps he can look at the example of his captain in this game. Ben Stokes has clearly tinkered with his technique, despite having the year of his life in 2019," Hussain wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"He has opened up his stance and has got a big trigger movement across his stumps towards the off side. I'm not sure why he has done it, but it shows even when you are in form you can always improve your alignment.

"Another example is Virat Kohli. When he came to England in 2014, he kept nicking Jimmy Anderson. Two summers ago, he stood further outside his crease and intercepted the ball before it had a chance to swing as much. The result was that superb century at Edgbaston.

Hussain was referring to Kohli's first century in England which he slammed during the first Test of the 2018 tour. His 225-delivery 149 came after he was bamboozled by James Anderson and other England bowlers on India's previous tour of the country in 2014.

"Denly has to believe that a tweak can be made, even while he accepts the risks that come with it," Hussain added.