Bayliss says he may go with two spinners
ENGLAND have called up the cavalry, and covered all options, as they urgently seek to regroup in the second Investec Test against Pakistan.
The predictable returns of fit-again James Anderson, for his home Test at Old Trafford, and Ben Stokes were confirmed yesterday in a 14-man squad also containing extra spinner Adil Rashid.
The surprise, after losing the first match of four by 75 runs at Lord’s, was that none of the vanquished made way.
Incumbent seamers Steven Finn and Jake Ball, the latter after just one cap, appeared to be vulnerable. Likewise, the middle-order pair of Gary Ballance and James Vince might have wondered if they would get another chance in Manchester.
England’s selectors have, however, chosen to sacrifice no one and travel north with both Rashid – yet to play a home Test – and Moeen Ali vying for the spinner’s spot, or conceivably to play alongside one another.
After leg-spinner Yasir Shah bowled Pakistan to victory at Lord’s, it is unlikely a pitch still more to his liking will be served up on Friday. But coach Trevor Bayliss gives credence to the notion of England returning fire with two spinners of their own this summer.
“I’ve always thought of playing two spinners [at home], at some stage,” he said. The extra element of Rashid’s leg-spin may yet be a temptation.
“[Pakistan] have three left-arm pace bowlers, who created rough outside the off stump for Moeen,” Bayliss added. “So looking ahead, if we did happen to have two spinners, they could both play an important part for us.
“They have just the one left-hander in their top order, with the ball spinning into the right-handers. It’s definitely a possibility. Getting the ball spinning away from the bat might make it a little more difficult.”
In three Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last winter, Rashid had mixed results.
“We’ve had a couple of guys playing over the last 12 months or so who are deemed the best spinners in England,” said Bayliss. We’ve got to make do with what we’ve got.”