“England are favorites to beat India at home” - Former captain makes massive statement after 1-3 loss in BGT 2024-25

Former England captain Michael Atherton has made a stunning prediction for five-Test match series against India at home later this year. With Ben Stokes and Co. also set to play an away Ashes series this year, the ex-opener reckons the tourists can dream to win in Australia as well.

The Englishmen managed to escape with a 2-2 draw the last time a home series took place against India. They haven't won an Ashes series since 2015 and last won a Test in Australia in 2011, with the two most recent legs at home resulting in a draw.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Atherton stated:

"I think England are favorites to beat India at home. For the Ashes, you have to say Australia are favourites - because very few England teams have won and regained the Ashes Down Under - but, for the first time since 2010/11, I'm relatively optimistic."

The Englishmen's last series win in Australia came in the 2010-11 leg. Former opener and captain Sir Alastair Cook put on a herculean effort, accumulating 766 runs in five Tests to help them achieve a landmark win.

---

"Both sides' batting looks vulnerable" - Michael Atherton on England's chances against India and Australia

Michael Atherton. (Image Credits: Getty)

Atherton feels the Englishmen can take massive cues from the recent series between India and Australia, mainly them being prone to batting collapses. The veteran commentator reckons Australia's line-up of yesteryears would hardly collapse like now.

"From an England perspective, I felt that they would have taken some encouragement… from both sides, actually. Both sides' batting looks vulnerable. Australia struggled as well; Usman Khawaja at the top, Smith got two hundreds but didn't quite seem like the player he was, and Labuschagne really struggled. Mitch Marsh was dropped, and [Alex] Carey looked vulnerable to the ball coming back into him."

"Unlike perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, when we were playing - and you'd look down the Aussie line-up and think, 'how are we going to get 20 wickets here?' - I can see an avenue for England, if their bowlers are fit, where there might be some possibilities," he added.

The five-Test series between India and Australia saw the latter come out on top with a 3-1 win. Although India's Jasprit Bumrah finished as the leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps, the tourists' frequent batting collapses hurt them.