'Selectors considering playing two spinners at Edgbaston'
Friday 29 July 2016 16:13, UK
Sir Ian Botham believes England should consider recalling leg-spinner Adil Rashid for the third Test against Pakistan as a replacement for the injured Ben Stokes.
Stokes has been ruled out of the game in Birmingham, which begins on Wednesday, and is also unlikely to play in the final Test with a torn calf muscle sustained in England's series-levelling 330-run victory at Old Trafford.
England's selectors, who have named Rashid alongside seamers Steven Finn and Jake Ball in a 13-man squad for the third Test, have steered clear from playing two spinners in recent home Tests - the last instance came in 2013 when Graeme Swann and Simon Kerrigan featured against Australia at The Oval.
However, with the Edgbaston wicket suited to spin, former Test captain Botham believes the Yorkshire bowler should get his chance as England look to take a stranglehold on the series.
"I'd really like to see Rashid play," said Botham. "Edgbaston is a turning wicket and having another spinner in the side will give England more options.
"The selectors traditionally don't like playing two spinners but I know this is something they are seriously talking about for this Test."
Rashid is yet to figure in a Test on home soil but has proved a valuable part of England's limited-overs squad with both bat and ball.
The Yorkshireman would provide extra strength to the batting, particularly in Stokes' absence, but Botham feels Rashid should be picked for his bowling and is his tip to claim most England first-innings wickets with Sky Bet at 5/1.
"I wouldn't select him just because he can bat, " Botham added.
"He's an improving bowler who will only get better by playing and bowling in Test matches. England should have enough strength in their batting with the likes of Chris Woakes batting at nine."
England head into Wednesday's match, live on Sky Sports 2, as Sky Bet's strong 4/6 favourites after their defeat of Pakistan at Old Trafford.
Their recent record at the ground is impressive, winning seven and drawing three of the last 13 Tests since 2000, while Pakistan have never won at Edgbaston and suffered a crushing nine-wicket defeat on their last visit in 2010.
England recorded a similar nine-wicket win over Australia at the ground last season, with last week's hero Joe Root hitting 63, and Botham expects the Yorkshire run-machine to heap further agony to Pakistan's bowlers next week.
Root landed the man-of-the-match award for his 254 at Manchester and has now scored 382 runs in the series.
Botham added: "Root is England's best player and we'll see plenty more big scores from him in his career."
Last week, the Sky Bet tipster enjoyed a clean sweep with all three selections - Joe Root (7/2) top England bat, Chris Woakes top England bowler (5/2) and the England win returning at a combined price of 16/1.
BEEFY'S THIRD TEST BETS
England win - 4/6
Top England bat 1st inns: Joe Root - 5/2
Top England bowler 1st inns: Adil Rashid - 5/1 (Chris Woakes 5/2 if Rashid doesn't start)
Joe Root top England bat and Adil Rashid top England bowler (1st inns) - 14/1
Joe Root top England bat and Adil Rashid top England bowler and England win - 20/1
