Virat Kohli is set to make his maiden bow in the English County circuit this summer but it that fact has not gone down too well with former England pacer Bob Willis.
Kohli is reportedly set to play for Surrey after completing his engagements in the upcoming IPL in a bid to sharpen his game ahead of India’s tour of England starting July.
Willis, who played 90 Tests and 64 ODIs for England, believes the India skipper should not be allowed to utilise the county stint to better prepare himself for the Test series.
In five Test matches so far in England, Kohli has only managed to score 134 runs at an average of 13.40.
“I can’t stand overseas players in county cricket,” said Willis who was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“It doesn’t benefit the players stranded in the second XI year on year and the youngsters. The only way to improve our Test team is to have as many England-qualified players playing in the County Championship as possible. Instead, they’re going to pay Kohli, presumably, five figures a match so he can hone his skills in English conditions before a Test series. It’s a nonsense,” he added.
Willis (r) wants Kohli to suffer the same fate as previous tours of England.
The outspoken pacer added that Kohli should be made to ‘suffer’ like he has done on previous tours of the country.
“He should be made to suffer and average 30 in England as he has done before. We don’t want England starting to lose Test matches at home because we’re accommodating all of these visiting players,” Willis said.
India are set to tour England for five Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is between July and September. Kohli, who will become the first Indian to play for Surrey should he sign with them, has been given permission from the BCCI to miss the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June.
