England took the 1-0 lead in the first Test of the ongoing five-match series against India last week. In the game, the team played with four spinners and one pacer, including Mark Wood. The team won the game by 28, making their comeback from 165/5 on Day Three before Tea. On Day Four, the Three Lions managed to defend the target of 231.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Vizag Test later this week (February 2), team head coach Brendon McCullum has hinted that the team might go with all-spin bowling attack. Notably, skipper Ben Stokes hasn’t been since the last few months. In the last game, left-arm spinners, Ton Hartley and Jack Leach, and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed played. Former skipper Joe Root played as the fourth spinner.
The former New Zealand skipper spoke about Shoaib Bashir, who couldn’t play last week due to visa issues. The latter joined the team during the first Test last week.
“He (Bashir) was obviously with us in the camp in Abu Dhabi and he really impressed with his skill sets. He fits in the group. He, again, like Tom Hartley, has little first-class experience, but we thought his skill could help us in here,” McCullum told SENZ Radio.
“If the wickets continue to spin as much as what we saw in the first Test as the series goes on, we won’t be afraid to play all spinners or a balance of what we’ve got,” he added further.
“I thought the way Ben Stokes handled Tom Hartley in the first innings when he bowled him an extended spell regardless of the fact that he was getting put under pressure by the Indian batters, I thought that was a real sign of leadership,” McCullum concluded.
