Swann bets on England spinner Leach to be pivotal in 2nd Ashes Test

Australia leave out Pattinson for Lord’s Test

Advance Level winners with Organizers celebrate after the TVS Cargo-Eid Cup Badminton tournament.

Intermediate & Lower Intermediate Level winners with Organizers celebrate after the TVS Cargo-Eid Cup Badminton tournament.

Runners-up: Kader &Arun Soon after the trilling matches, awarding ceremony and distribution of cash prizes and trophies took place for the winners by TVS Cargo Manager Y. Feroz Khan and Marketing Manager Gangai Gopal. All matches were umpired by Jahir Hussain, Sadham Hussain, Abdul Hassan and Saravanan and were organized by Hars Nesu and Muthu Kumar. LONDON, Aug 13, (RTRS): Left-arm spinner Jack Leach should have been in England’s setup years ago and he can help pick up wickets in the second innings of the Ashes Test against Australia when the pitch starts to deteriorate, former spinner Graeme Swann has said.

With spinners Moeen Ali dropped due to poor form and Adil Rashid ruled out with injury, Leach, who has taken 20 wickets in five Tests, was named in England’s 12 alongside fast bowler Jofra Archer ahead of Wednesday’s second Test at Lord’s.

“Jack Leach should have been playing or at least involved in the England team years ago,” said Swann, an ambassador for Betfair.

“There was a time when he wasn’t picked for England to go on tour because there was a rumour that he only took wickets when it turned, which still absolutely amazes me.

“I think he’s got to do his holding role well, that’s the most important thing. Do your holding role in the first innings and then in the second innings, the wicket should deteriorate, it starts to spin and you can go out and win the game.”

Ali was dropped after a poor performance in the opening Test in Edgbaston where he picked up only three wickets in two innings (1-42 and 2-130) and did not score more than four runs.

“England had to drop Moeen Ali because... he had become unselectable,” Swann added. “But there is plenty of scope for him to come back. He has to go away and rediscover some confidence in himself.

“It’s a real shame that Mo has missed out actually because ideally you’d have a spinner at each end, one left and one right, but you can’t pick Mo as a batsman at the moment so that is how it’s worked out.”

Australia lead the Ashes 1-0 after their 251-run win at Edgbaston.

England’s Moeen Ali is taking a break from cricket to “recharge his batteries” after he was dropped from the Ashes squad ahead of the second Test against Australia, Worcestershire coach Alex Gidman said on Tuesday.

Ali was dropped after a poor performance in the opening Test in Edgbaston where he picked up only three wickets in two innings (1-42 and 2-130) and did not score more than four runs.

Left arm spinner Jack Leach has been named in the squad in his place for the Test at Lord’s.

“Mo is spending a little time away from the middle, recharging his batteries and putting in some quality practice time which he feels he needs, and we completely respect,” Gidman said in a statement.

“He has had an intense schedule of international cricket involving the ICC World Cup and the start of the Ashes.

“Mo loves playing for Worcestershire and he gives a lift to everyone in the dressing room when he comes back and plays for us. We look forward to when he returns soon.”

Ali, who was part of England’s triumphant squad that won the 50-over World Cup on home soil last month, has played 60 Test matches since making his debut in 2014 with 181 wickets to his name.

Australia dropped fast bowler James Pattinson from a 12-man squad for the second Ashes Test against England starting at Lord’s on Wednesday, with Josh Hazlewood coming in as likely replacement.

Fellow quick Mitchell Starc, the left armer who was also overlooked for the first Test won by Australia at Edgbaston, also made the squad but could end up carrying the drinks once the playing lineup is named at the toss.

Spearhead Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle, who made up the pace trio with Pattinson in the 251-run opening victory, retained their places.

Captain Tim Paine told reporters Pattinson was left out as part of long-term planning, with the choice between Hazlewood and Starc.

“Whichever one of those two we unleash tomorrow, they are certainly ready to go,” he said.

Hazlewood is seen as the likeliest replacement based on performances in a tour match against Worcestershire last week.

Edgbaston was Pattinson’s first Test in three and a half years, after he suffered back injuries and then underwent surgery, and he took two wickets.

“He’s available for selection but we’ve decided to rest him for this game and make sure that his long term future is in really good shape,” explained Paine.

“He’s come back off a really long layoff, a really serious operation, and we want to make sure that he’s truly right for the next three or four years.

The third Ashes Test at Yorkshire’s Headingley ground in Leeds comes as a quick turnaround from Lord’s, with play starting on Aug 22.

“It was always going to be one way or the other,” said Paine. “He would miss this Test and be fresher for the third Test or he has this one after the long break and doesn’t play in the third.

“I think if you look at Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood’s records at Lord’s, it’s a good venue for one of those to come in and play and be confident in the fact that they can bowl really well here.”

Starc played all five Tests on the 2015 Ashes tour and finished as the highest wicket-taker in the 50-overs World Cup last month.

The weather could be a factor in who gets the nod, with rain possible throughout Wednesday.

“There’s not set combinations, we sort of come in the morning and have a look and go with a bit of a gut feel. You try and make the best possible decision that you can when you have a look at the conditions you’re faced with,” said Paine.

Australia’s victory at Edgbaston was their first in the opening Test of an away Ashes series since 2005.

England’s Barbados-born fast bowler Jofra Archer will be making his Test debut on Wednesday, and Paine said Australia would be ready for whatever he delivered. Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (captain, wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

England’s Jack Leach (left), watches as teammate Chris Woakes bowls during a training session at Lord’s cricket ground in London on

Aug 13. (AP)