England’s weak tweakers face a bleak future

The alarm bells would have been ringing when England’s spinners were out-bowled in Bangladesh in October, where the side lost their first ever test against the hosts in a series regarded by many as an appetiser for the Indian leg of the trip. That 1-1 drawn series did little to prepare England’s batsmen for the main course as India’s spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin, the world’s topranked test bowler, and Ravindra Jadeja helped themselves to 54 wickets. By comparison, England’s main spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali combined for 33 wickets, and the other four slow bowlers used on the tour — Zafar Ansari, Liam Dawson, Gareth Batty and part-timer Joe Root — only claimed seven more between them. “I think everyone can see we are suited to playing in seaming conditions. There’s no point hiding behind that fact,” England captain Cook said.

Alastair Cook’s captaincy has come under severe criticism after England suffered a 0-4 drubbing at the hands of India and former skipper Michael Vaughan feels that the team now needs the opening batsman’s power and runs at the top of the order rather than his leadership.

“When you are captain, and the team is losing, you do not enjoy the game. It drags you down. You wake up not really wanting to go out and play. Cook somehow has to rediscover that zest and energy to play the game. The team needs his power and runs at the top of the order more than his leadership,” Vaughan told Daily Telegraph.