Friday 19 March 2010

A Turn For The Better

Where are all the UK Asian spin bowlers in County cricket?

I ask this for two reasons:

1. County cricket has a complete dearth of quality spin bowlers
2. There are thousands of UK Asian spin bowlers who don't appear to be coming through.

Both of these factors might be interlinked, certainly point two might lead to point one. However, is it a lack of spin bowlers below county cricket that is leading to the lack of spin bowlers AT county cricket, or is it that those spin bowlers just aren't good enough?

I genuinely do not know the answer to the overall question. When we see someone like Graeme Swann developing into a world-class bowler and Monty Panesar going into reverse, it is baffling. Adeel Rashid is widely touted as someone who will be a seriously good leg spin bowler but so far he has been inconsistent and not penetrating enough. It IS harder for a leg spin (wrist) bowler to control the ball and to be fair we have been spoilt by Shane Warne's prowess in taking a massive amount of wickets. But the fact remains that even the finger spinners cannot seem to make much headway. James Tredwell is currently best of the rest.

With the rise and rise of Murali, the prevalence of bowlers learning to bowl the 'doosra' and the mystery of the Mendis delivery, the time has never been more focused on English cricket producing even a pale imitation of a top-quality spinner. Some of the physical attributes for bowling like Murali or Mendis may require a degree of double-jointedness and maximum flexibility in joints. Yet on Saturday afternoons all across the country, we can see evidence of young Asian spinners plying their trade for clubs. Is it too much of a jump to expect that at least one of these talented bowlers could be good enough for county/international cricket?

Or is it lack of opportunity that is restricting the development of them? Or are there talented bowlers who simply don't want to play county cricket?

There are far more Asian spinners on county staffs now than ever before of course. However the numbers are disproportionate for the amount who are available. And given the lack of quality running through our county teams with regard to spin, the need for a really talented young spin bowler of any background right now would be exciting.

Having said that I think it is hard for a spin bowler to genuinely establish themselves quickly. It takes time and needs to be proven over many seasons. But now and again, we come across a few who can create a real stir. And I sincerely hope we see a real quality UK Asian spin bowler weaving their mystery skills over county cricket sometime soon.

Swann has shown the way and has learned flight, spin and control. He has realised how to use the crease discovering that it's not always where the ball goes but sometimes where it comes from that's important. Changes of speed, rotation and drift too, has given Swann rightly the title of world-class spin bowler. I personally think he is one of the best we have had since John Emburey back in the 1980's and maybe in time, might prove to be better than that.

What Swann needs though is a spin bowling partner. The door is wide open. It's time for the UK Asian spinners to show what they can do because it would be a great pairing for all concerned.

It would be great to have our own Murali or Mendis, Saqlain or Singh, Kumble or Kaneria.

Adeel Rashid and Monty Panesar cannot be the only ones out there. Someone who could be successful would also have little competition right now. Assuming the chances are there and there's not a block to talent coming through, it will be down to ability and consistency.

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