Spinners need match play overs – Such

A 2-0 loss in the UAE continued Pakistan’s unbeaten record in their adoptive home and once again exposed a chink in England’s armour.

On the slow turners of the Emirates, Moeen Ali, Yorkshire’s Adil Rashid and Samit Patel took a combined 18 wickets at 57.6, while Pakistani trio Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar and Shoaib Malik claimed 35 at an average of 27.4.

While Moeen enjoyed notable success against India early in his Test career, England have come up short in the slow bowling department far too frequently since Graeme Swann’s retirement.

Peter Such, ECB’s lead spin coach at the National Cricket Performance Centre, feels for the English trio, but believes lessons will have been learned.

“I’ve worked with those guys in the past and they are talented cricketers,” Such commented.

“But what they’ve had over there has been a tough gig. England lost three tosses on the trot so they spent long periods in the field before they got a chance.

“Pakistan do play spin very well too, so it has been tough for them, but also a really good learning experience.

“I am damn sure they will come back better for it having been through this experience.”

England will probably make do with a solitary spinner, probably Moeen given his credit as a batsman, when they take on South Africa in their next Test tour.

Such works with the best young prospects at Loughborough, and will lead a spin bowling camp for a handful of county cricket’s best in Dubai later this month.

“County cricket is a massive part of the solution – it is the biggest part,” he said.

“We can do all that we want here but the most important factor in a spin bowler’s development is the opportunity to bowl match play overs.”