Selecting The Spinners

While it is accepted that pace bowlers will be genuine tail-enders, spin bowler are expected to ensure the tail wags. Emburey, Hemmings, Salisbury, Croft and now Giles and Udal have all made useful runs in the lower order.

It is for this reason that Monty Panesar, who has a first class average of 7.79, will probably only be selected if Giles is unfit. With the exception of Phil Tufnell, English spinners have not been selected as match winners. They have been selected as contributors; bowlers who can keep the run rate down until the new ball becomes available and then bat obdurately. They are the workhorses, who quietly get the job done while the show ponies take the credit. The fact that Ashley Giles has achieved the double has gone completely unnoticed.

The 23 year-old Monty Panesar deserves to be selected for the India tour. Perhaps he is the English spinner to break the mould and be selected purely for his bowling talent.