I can just about remember India regularly playing three or four top-class spinners like Bedi and Venkat back in the early 1970s. Now, with slow bowlers back in vogue thanks first to Warne, Murali and Kumble, then to their success in Twenty20, everyone wants to get in on the act.
In the recent UAE series against Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman destroyed England, but Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar also had their moments on the pitches of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is interesting that for the forthcoming Tests in Sri Lanka, the English selectors have gone for two other spinners in James Tredwell and all-rounder Samit Patel.
I rather suspect they may be on drinks duties unless injury strikes one or both of Swanny or Monty. However, by giving Eoin Morgan the boot, Patel's chances of making his Test debut look the stronger unless Andy Flower goes for Bresnan as an extra seamer and, alongside Matt Prior and Stuart Broad, useful late-order batsman. The Notts all-rounder has always been a batsman first and foremost but of course his additional bowling option has earned him 25 ODI caps. His first-class batting average is a satisfactory 41, with 13 centuries to his name. Ravi Bopara will presumably take Morgan's place at Galle as a like-for-like but should he fail, Patel is waiting in the wings.
Tredwell made just one Test appearance in Dhaka after an excellent season for Kent in 2009. Against Bangladesh he took six wickets for 181 before returning to the semi-wilderness. He made the one-day squad last winter, making the last of his five ODI appearances against Sri Lanka, taking no wickets. Mind you, so did all his colleagues, as Tharanga and Dilshan each scored unbeaten hundreds!
England's eleven will probably read: Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bopara, Prior, Swann, Broad and two out of three of Finn, Anderson and Panesar. It's possible that the Essex man could give way to Bresnan or even Anderson, if England opt for a five-man bowling attack. It's weird to think that the Lancashire paceman should find himself in danger of being dropped whilst still ranked third in the world. However, it would be tough to leave out Finn after performing so well in the one-dayers.
I have little sympathy for Morgan. He is a fine 'one-day' number six but I would go for Bopara every time. Patel's lack of movement in the field counts against him but, as I said, he could find himself called up in the event of injury, loss of form or just a gamble by the coach. Could we see an England Test XI featuring a full spin quartet? I somehow doubt it, but having four in a squad of fifteen opens up the intriguing possibility!
