There was nothing spectacular about the announcement last week of the England squad to tour India but what was interesting was the place which was left open for a third spinner.
Warwickshire's Alex Loudon filled that in Pakistan but I am told that he did not especially convince in the nets - but as he only played in one warm-up game that was the only place where he could really impress. Loudon is a good character with a fine work ethic but my view is that if he is to make it at the higher level it will have to be as a batsman who bowls, rather than the front-line spinner which he was selected as in Pakistan.
He was primarily picked for that role because he possesses a 'doosra'- in other words a ball which goes 'the other way,' away from the right handed batsman. That is the delivery which has made the likes of Saqlain Mushtaq, Harbahjan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan (latterly) so formidable, but Loudon's version is very different and nowhere near as effective.
In fact, I am told that it is very easy to read for the batsmen and not particularly venomous because it does not possess the required amount of 'revs'- as they say in the trade. In other words it has no fizz. What is more, there are those within the county game who feel unhappy that Loudon seems to have been picked for Pakistan just because some commentators on Sky TV emphasised the fact that he does have a 'doosra'.
Suddenly now the name on everyone's lips is Monty Panesar, the left arm spinner from Northamptonshire. Just as with Loudon in August/September a bandwagon has gradually been gathering momentum. It makes me wonder how many of these people have actually seen Panesar bowl. I will admit myself that I have only seen him once- when I played against him for Glamorgan, but even then I did not face him as I was out too early.
What I do remember, though, is Matthew Maynard being flummoxed by the youngster and skying a catch to mid-off, and unusually Maynard made a token of congratulation to the bowler as he walked off past him, tapping his backside with his bat. Maynard had been impressed by the youngster's courage to give the ball some air. I wonder if he has passed on the recollection of that incident in the recent deliberations over this last spinning place.
It would be strange if Panesar were to be called up because he was not even deemed worthy of a place at the National Academy when this winter's intake was named in September, so for him to leapfrog his way to the full squad would be surprising. Somerset's Ian Blackwell is another one in the frame, but I suspect the delay is because coach Duncan Fletcher wants to see Panesar bowl himself- maybe wants to have a look at his fitness, fielding and batting as well- areas of his game which previously have been woefully short of the mark and those which he has been told to work on.
It may even be that England are still worried about the fitness of Ashley Giles and are waiting to hear about that before deciding who to take - that might be where Blackwell could fit in because of his greater experience. But make no mistake, Giles' absence would be a huge blow because at full fitness ( he was nowhere near so in Pakistan) he can play a significant role at Test match level, as he has proved consistently over the last few years and as he did when England last visited India.
If England's bowlers were unsure what to expect when they arrive in India in February this week's run fest in Lahore has rammed home to them how arduous it's going to be - 410 for the first wicket between Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. I think that is what's known in the game as a solid start!
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