Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann. Credit: Getty Images

Former England off-spinner, Graeme Swann has some tips for the English spinners which will challenge the Indian batsmen in the forthcoming 4-match Test series in India. Swan picked 20 wickets in England’s 2012 series victory in India – the Indian team hasn’t lost a Test series at home since; indeed they have lost just a single Test match since then.

Graeme Swann points out that the pitch will offer turn in the subcontinent from Day 1 itself, doesn’t matter how flat it appears. He asks the English spinners – Moeen Ali, Jack Leach, and Dom Bess are England’s first-choice spinners on the tour – to be patient as the Indian batters also have the great temperament to wait for the bad balls.

England vs India 2018, Moeen Ali, Sir Ian Botham
Moeen Ali. Image Courtesy: Getty

“The one thing that I used to say to myself is, it’s going to spin and it does spin – even on day one where they are fairly flat pitches,” Graeme Swann said on the Hussain and Key Cricket show.

“India are very, very patient but if you are willing to be patient and bowl all day you will take wickets. You might have to work very hard for them and you’ll lose some timber, which isn’t a bad thing,” he added.

Jack Leach should be bowling 40 overs a day: Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann feels that Jack Leach is going to be the key spinner for England against Virat Kohli’s side. The 41-year-old  suggests Leach bowl continuously on the stumps. Graeme Swann, who averages 26 with the ball in Asia, reckons the left-arm off-spinner has a vital role because if he bowls consistently tying up one end, it will give allow Joe Root to give his pacers rest in the hot conditions in India.

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Jack Leach
Jack Leach. Credit: Getty Images

England currently is playing against Sri Lanka in Galle. While Moeen Ali missed the Test series due to testing positive for the covid-19 and then extended quarantine, Jack Leach and Dom Bess both took a 5-for in the first Test match.

“Jack Leach is the one for me in India – he has to run up and be prepared to bowl nothing but straight deliveries, pitching middle stump and hitting middle stump,” reckons Graeme Swann.

“If Jack Leach can do that and almost tie one end up bowling 40 overs a day, then you can rotate the strike bowlers in (Mark) Wood, (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad and get the other spinner attacking more,” he said

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