Spin bowling will undoubtedly be a huge factor in the ongoing four-match Test series between India and England and former English spinner Graeme Swann believes that the inexperienced spin duo of Leach and Dom Bess will make an impact on the ongoing tour with the red-ball.
However, things will be an enormous challenge for Leach and Bess in India even they are in brilliant form after taking five-wicket hauls in Sri Lanka, as the spin duo hasn’t played in Indian conditions.
With the first Test already began in Chennai from Friday, February 5, Swann, who was one of the architects of England’s famous Test series win in India back in 2012, suggested the left-arm spinner Leach bowl a “boring” line and length to be successful in India against Team India.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Swann said: “What you see is what you get with him. He's a no-frills left-arm spinner, who runs up and pitches it on the stumps. I'd tell him very simply to watch what Herath used to do for Sri Lanka. That's the blueprint for Leach: run up, put it on the spot, be metronomic, and be almost deadly boring in the way he operates in India.”
One of England's finest spinners, Swann also impressed with Leach’s consistency, saying: “India's batsmen will respect a good ball, and he doesn't bowl very many bad ones. Generally, Indian batsmen will play the long game. That's brilliant for him because it gives him the chance to get into a rhythm and find his groove. He can definitely be consistent enough to hold down an end.”
However, Swann doesn't expect the same consistency from Bess and even said he didn't bowl particularly well in Sri Lanka despite picking 12 wickets, but hopes him to develop into a world-class bowler for England with good mentoring in the coming years.
He further explained, “The fact is that Dom is still young and hasn't bowled a great number of overs in his life means that he's not as consistent as he might be in the future. It's a tricky one because Bess is a wicket-taker.
He didn't bowl particularly well in Sri Lanka and I think he'd admit that, but he took 12 wickets and he does bowl wicket-taking balls.
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I saw Mooen (Ali) say he's hungry to play after 18 months away and if he's fit and going well, I would prefer the shape he gets when he drifts it away and gets dip to Bess' shape which drifts in because he doesn't finish his action off all the time.
I think it's a mental thing and that he might not be believing in himself, but with good mentoring and support, he'll nail that. He's going to be brilliant, and he'll be brilliant for England over a 10-year period. It's just about getting there.”
After a rate Test series triumph in India in 2012, England was hammered 4-0 by the Indian team in their last tour of India in 2016, Swann said his national side need to get over Ashes fixation to win here.
He explained, “In 2012, we went to India and we won. We had a bloody brilliant team but we won a series against a very fine side, and the next time we went, not a single lesson had been learned so we lost 4-0. I don't think we'd take it seriously because the focus is so much on going to Australia to win the Ashes.
We've taken our eye off the ball. India is actually the best out team in the world these days, especially in India, so I hope this time that we can get back to competing over there.”
Swann signed off by saying, “Taking 20 wickets on a regular basis will be a struggle: it's an awesome seam attack and they've got it in them once or twice in the series, especially in the day-night match, but whether they can do it in all four games is yet to be seen.”
(With PTI Inputs)
