Alastair Cook: England skipper arrives in India ready for a week-long course of therapy from spin guru Saqlain Mushtaq
Captain Cook knows batting against spin — as well as bowling it — are England’s biggest problems
ALASTAIR COOK and his players arrive in India today ready for a week-long course of therapy from their spin guru.
Captain Cook knows batting against spin — as well as bowling it — are England’s biggest problems before the five-Test series against the world’s No 1 team.
That is why former twirly man Saqlain Mushtaq, who took over 200 Test wickets for Pakistan, is being brought in ahead of the First Test in Rajkot on November 9.
Saqlain, 39, has been hired for two weeks to assist England’s quartet of spinners.
He revealed: “I’ll be helping England’s spinners prepare for the series against India, where pitches normally help slow bowlers.
“I’ll also be giving tips to the English batsmen on how to counter the Indian spinners on their home pitches.
“It should be a challenging assignment.”
England’s issues against spin were brutally exposed during their collapse from 100-0 to 164 all out on Sunday as they lost the Second Test in Bangladesh and drew the series 1-1.
What’s more, the spin bowling attack of Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Gareth Batty and Zafar Ansari was also frequently disappointing.
Now England face the main business of the winter with five Tests in six weeks against India, who boast the world’s No 1 bowler in spinner Ravi Ashwin.
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Saqlain helped Moeen and Rashid during last summer’s Old Trafford Test against Pakistan and created a strong impression.
Moeen said: “Working with Saqlain was one of the best things I’ve done.
“He focused mainly on the mental aspects of bowling and didn’t say much about the technical side of the game.
“Most of his advice was about tactics, field placings and the opposition batsmen.
“I feel he helped my bowling a lot and I’m looking forward to working with him again.”