Jack to the future!
SPIN KINGS LEACH & MOEEN WILL RULE SRI LANKA AGAIN... JUST LIKE IN 2018
PAUL FARBRACE is backing England’s slow men to put Sri Lanka’s batsmen in a spin – and hand Joe Root’s men the best possible start to 2021.
The former assistant coach to Trevor Bayliss knows Sri Lanka better than most.
He won the T20 World Cup as coach in 2014, and worked alongside Bayliss with the 1996 World Cup winners for two years before teaming up with the Aussie again helping guide England.
Farbrace was also part of the coaching set-up that saw Root’s side rout Sri Lanka 3-0 in 2018.
That series was dominated by England’s spinners, with Jack Leach, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid taking 48 of the 60 wickets to fall.
Now Warwickshire sporting director, Farbrace said: “The wickets on the tour were real spinning wickets which meant that our spinners were hugely in the game and very impressive.
“They will produce better pitches this time and I think they would probably settle for two draws in this series.
“But the experience that Moeen and Jack had over there in 2018 will be massive.
“There are a lot of players who played in that series and these guys know how Sri Lanka play.
“Leachy was superb in that last series – he and Mo bowled brilliantly.
“That’s why Mo has been recalled into this group.
“Generally finger-spinners will have more success at Galle than wrist- spinners because of the bounce.
“I expect Moeen and Leachy to bowl well there. They will be the perfect attack on that. Hopefully
Mo will have recovered fully from his Covid by then.
“Although it will be a tight turnaround for him to play, I think he will be a main player for England.
“Rooty also bowls at the right pace for that pitch and obviously Dom Bess is on the trip as well.
“England have got a good attack. They’ve also got bowlers who can reverse swing the ball as well.
“That’s why I think England are favourites.
“They’ve got options with the ball and they’ve got a batting group that’s prepared to play in different ways.”
Back in 2018, Ben Foakes, Keaton Jennings, Jonny Bairstow and Root starred with the bat, with all four notching centuries during the series. Now England will be looking for similar from Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley, who have both cemented their places. “In Dom and Zak, England have two very quick learners,” said Farbrace. “Sibley, from the start of New Zealand to the end of the South Africa series, he was absolutely fantastic. “Those two have stood up to everything that was thrown at them this summer too. Both played brilliantly. “I think England have a really good group and a lot of very exciting young players in this side.”