Ashes 2021-22: Biggest Concern For Joe Root Is Not The Seam Department - Jason Gillespie

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie believes that England’s weakest department is spin bowling which was taken to the cleaners by the Aussies in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Jack Leach, England’s only frontline slow bowler, had figures of 1/102 in 13 overs. The Aussie batsmen didn’t allow Leach to settle down ever since he came on and Gillespie said it’s Australia’s tradition against finger spinners.

“The biggest bowling concern for Joe Root is not in the seam department. It’s what they’re going to do with regards to spin. Australians always have and always will take on finger spin because it doesn’t offer a hell of a lot. The policy is to go hard at it.“

“You didn’t have to be Einstein to see that Jack Leach would be lined up to be pummelled. He’s not a big turner of the ball; the Gabba doesn’t have huge straight boundaries, so of course, the Australians were looking to belt him,” Gillespie wrote in his column for dailymail.co.uk on Saturday.

If Dom Bess comes in, he can expect the same treatment – Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie also said that England’s second bowling option, Dom Bess, would give similar treatment. Bess was part of England’s squad when they toured India and he was quite ineffective there. Considering subcontinent conditions are conducive to spin bowling, it’s hard to expect Bess to be any better in Australia, where seam bowlers are favoured.

“If Dom Bess comes in, he can expect the same treatment. I can’t comprehend why wrist-spinner Mason Crane wasn’t picked for Australian conditions. As a finger spinner, Nathan Lyon is an outlier. He is one of the greats of the game as a 400-wicket bowler, but even then they only come around every 67 balls. So Root has something to think about there,” Gillespie added.

The first Ashes Test was won by Australia quite comfortably at the Gabba. Travis Head won the Man of the Match award for his 152-run knock in the first innings.

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