Leach, Ahmed, Hartley - terrible England spin "attacks" in the SC

[Ali TT]

As we head into another India series with huge questions over our spin bowling, it's a good time to reflect on the **** we've had before.

Like in 2001 when we went with Richard Dawson as sole spinner alongside four seamers in the first test, which we lost. Any of the combinations of Tuffers, Embers, Salisbury and Hick in 92/93. Pick your favourite from Mo/Leach/Root or Bess/Leach/Root in 2021. Winning a test in 2006 with a very green Monty and a very grey Shaun Udal said more about the pitch I think than England's spinners.

Not in India, but my favourite attack is probably from our tour in 2016, when we took soon-to-be finance man Zafar Ansari and 39yo Gareth Batty with us, although at least I don't think they ever played together alongside Mo and Rashid.

 

[cnerd123]

This is next level gambhiring

 

[mr_mister]

Did any 2 of Tuffers, Such and Croft get a gig together over there in the mid 90s? That sounds decent

 

[GIMH]

Winning a test in 2006 with a very green Monty and a very grey Shaun Udal said more about the pitch I think than England's spinners.

I take exception to this. Udal bowled pretty well, and we were worthy winners, it wasn't a pitch lottery

 

[reyrey]

Zafar (Lawyer not Finance) did get a couple of games with Mo and Rash.

It is what it is though. You either have the spinners or just try make do. Even the mighty Australians once fielded a "spin" attack consisting of Katich, Clarke and Cam White in India.

 

[mr_mister]

Cam White or Steve Smith - who was the better leggie?

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

SA once toured India with Clive Eksteen and Nicky Boje as the main spinners..and won 2-0 lol

 

[Ashes81]

England have struggled to produce spinners of the required standard for decades now.

I can only recall Underwood and Swann who average 30 or under.

Even our better spinners, Tufnell, Emburey, Monty, average over 35.

Leach is underrated in my view. He has 124 wickets at 34. For an English spinner that a good effort.

 

[reyrey]

England have struggled to produce spinners of the required standard for decades now.

I can only recall Underwood and Swann who average 30 or under.

Even our better spinners, Tufnell, Emburey, Monty, average over 35.

Leach is underrated in my view. He has 124 wickets at 34. For an English spinner that a good effort.

Monty averages just under 35.

If DRS was always a thing then Tufnell and Emburey would comfortably average under 35 too.

 

[Jumno]

The 2006 win I think India thought the wicket would spin and it didn't.

Flintoff got dravid in what would be a normal leave from Dravid.

 

[wpdavid]

Gareth Batty playing the whole 2003 series in SL takes some beating. But tbf, his spinning partner Giles did OK in two of the three tests.

 

[Jumno]

Monty got a 5 fer in Perth Australia 06 first innings after Giles accidentally dropped catch in the Adelaide test before.

Monty came in and did the job.

 

[Ali TT]

Zafar (Lawyer not Finance) did get a couple of games with Mo and Rash.

It is what it is though. You either have the spinners or just try make do. Even the mighty Australians once fielded a "spin" attack consisting of Katich, Clarke and Cam White in India.

Confusing him with Alex Loudon. I see Ansari has worked on some pretty high profile cases including for the OU against a gender critical academic and the commission looking at race issues in English cricket.

 

[Ali TT]

Monty got a 5 fer in Perth Australia 06 first innings after Giles accidentally dropped catch in the Adelaide test before.

Monty came in and did the job.

Not the sub continent

 

[honestbharani]

I take exception to this. Udal bowled pretty well, and we were worthy winners, it wasn't a pitch lottery

It was a good pitch AFAIR.

 

[honestbharani]

Cam White or Steve Smith - who was the better leggie?

Katich.

 

[kevinw]

England played Giles and Croft in the series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the turn of the century. Can't recall their numbers but they must've done OK.

The Sri Lanka series was ace and always brings up one of my favourite cricket videos -

e.g., the worst umpiring ever. Shaun Pollock's exasperation on commentary!

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Monty averages just under 35.

If DRS was always a thing then Tufnell and Emburey would comfortably average under 35 too.

Bess was badly treated by the selectors

 

[kevinw]

England have struggled to produce spinners of the required standard for decades now.

I can only recall Underwood and Swann who average 30 or under.

Even our better spinners, Tufnell, Emburey, Monty, average over 35.

Leach is underrated in my view. He has 124 wickets at 34. For an English spinner that a good effort.

It says a lot about England's spin options and their sense of morals that Emburey played 60-odd Tests.

 

[kevinw]

Bess was badly treated by the selectors

Only 26yo, was playing FC cricket in Zimbabwe before Christmas. Just get him working with Saqlain for a few months!