English cricket needs to look at why are we not producing quality spinners, says Nasser
Thursday 5 November 2015 12:00, UK
Nasser Hussain says England's spinners' struggles against Pakistan in the UAE needs to be addressed, with too few coming through the county game.
England slipped to a 2-0 series defeat with a 127-run loss in the third and final Test in Sharjah, with Pakistan's spinners taking nine of their 10 second innings wickets to fall.
By contrast, England's trio of spinners Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Samit Patel took only 20 wickets at 57.90 in the series, and were outshone by the seam attack which impressed with 31 scalps at 24.58.
"They didn't surprise me at all," said Hussain. "You could have picked a number of spinners from the county game who also wouldn't have got wickets."
"Moeen didn't bowl particularly well in this series, but that is how he has been as an off-spinner for England. He'll be good sometimes, not so good others.
"He impressed against India, was poor in the Caribbean against the West Indies, and then did alright this summer and struggled here.
"Rashid gets tailenders out, but how many good players has he got out in the series? And would you turn up to a county game and worry about Patel? Personally, no.
"Rashid could still feature in South Africa, as he has to be given that chance to learn and get better"
"That's something that English cricket needs to look at, not Trevor Bayliss or Alastair Cook, they're out there trying to win Test matches. English cricket needs to look at why are we not producing quality spinners?
"Why is Shoaib Malik - Pakistan's third best spinner - taking seven wickets and looking so good and out-bowling our best spinners?
"Rashid is only playing in his third Test match and Ian Botham says he should have been played sooner than he has, but the problem is when we get back on the green, green grass of home - forget the tour to South Africa - Rashid is not going to play.
"We're going to go back to 'Plan A' on green pitches with Moeen as the part-time spinner and four seamers. As a result, our spinners never get better.
"Rashid could still feature in South Africa, unlikely as a second spinner, but pushing Moeen for a spot, because he has to be given that chance to learn and get better."
Watch highlights of the fifth and final day of the third Test between Pakistan and England on Sky Sports 2 from 3pm, followed by The Verdict on the same channel at 4pm.
