Ashwin or Kuldeep? Hussey makes his call

Australian great Mike Hussey has urged India to keep faith in off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as calls grow louder for mystery spinner Kuldeep Yadav to play in this week's first Test against England.

In addition to a top-order selection puzzle, India will be forced to make a call on their bowling attack for the match at Edgbaston, the first of five Tests that begins on Wednesday.

Despite being the quickest bowler to take 300 wickets in Tests, Ashwin's 40-plus bowling average outside Asia combined with Kuldeep's red-hot form means the off-spinner is no certainty to play this week.

The late-summer start to the series and the fact Ashwin averages more than 30 with the bat in Tests has raised the prospect of both slow bowlers being picked alongside three quicks.

But if conditions call for just one spinner, Hussey says Ashwin should be the man.

"Kuldeep is a fantastic bowler and has done well (but) personally, I don't think Kuldeep should play at the expense of Ashwin," Hussey told Times of India.

"I think Ashwin deserves his place in the team as he has been a brilliant Test match bowler for a long period of time. He has over 300 Test wickets, plus England have many left-handers and Ashwin can play a big role.

"There is still plenty of time for Kuldeep as he's young. Let him keep learning along the way but if there is an injury or an opportunity, then I am sure he will do a good job for India."

England are set to include four left-handers – Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes – in their top six at Edgbaston, which could help both Ashwin and Kuldeep given their stock delivery turns away from left-handed batsmen.

However, during the recent limited-overs matches, it was Kuldeep's googly that caused the most problems for England's right-handers, notably Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root before the Test skipper found form late in the one-day series.

The unseasonably warm English summer is set to continue in Birmingham this week, which could lead to dry, spin-friendly conditions that will both aid India's batsmen – who regularly flounder against good swing bowling – and enhance the threat of their spinners.

Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who was part of their famous series win in the UK in 1986, says only a green seamer should discourage the tourists from playing two spinners.

"If it's a green pitch then they may go with 4-1 (four fast bowlers and one spinner), but I think 3-2 will be a better combination if you want to win," Azharuddin said, adding Ashwin should be the lone spinner if selectors opt for a seam-heavy attack.

"(Kuldeep) is performing so he should be picked, and the England side is struggling (against) him. Ashwin and Yadav should play.

"The only chance England will have is if they (prepare) green tops. But if they give green tops they will also struggle, because we also have very good swing bowlers."

England also have a decision to make regarding their bowling attack, with Adil Rashid earning a controversial recall and Moeen Ali also returning having been dropped following his poor tours of Australia and New Zealand in the winter.