I meant of course, “in the one match in which Yasir didn’t play“…

…back to the day job.

Yes, England failed miserably in the UAE, losing 2-0 to Pakistan, but that was simply because the batsmen couldn’t cope with Yasir Shah and therefore the spinners didn’t get the chance (in the two matches Yasir played) to apply any pressure.

In the one match in which Yasir played, the Moeen/Adil combination 2nd dig nearly snatched victory from the jaws of a bore draw:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/902635.html

Personally, I also think that Adil has kicked on since last winter; certainly his white ball bowling has impressed me these last few months.

In short, the only logical spin twin combination for me this winter is Moeen/Adil.

The debate should be about the third spinner/reserve spinner(s) in my view.

“You can prove anything with facts”

England won the last series in India with Swann and Panesar taking 37 wickets between them and Anderson backing them up with 12. I can see Anderson taking more, but I don’t see any Swann/Panesar replacements that will make up the numbers.

This. comment is why I keep coming to this site.

Might be a moot point with Stokes’ injury though. Are the selectors bold enough to lose the extra seamer though? Rashid for Stokes makes the most sense.

I’m a big fan of two spinners, especially if you can have an offie/leggie combo. The worry is that Moeen might not actually be a spinner, but rather a batsman who can bowl a bit of spin. If that is the case – as it is beginning to look – it doesn’t necessarily mean he ought to be dropped – but he will need to be able to hold down a place as a batsman primarily. I’m remain unconvinced he’s a test class batsman but given that Vince looks absolutely bobbins where’s the harm in giving Moeen a run in the top six to prove himself/disprove himself and picking Rashid as a spinner?

Moreover, this is one of those very rare moments in history when you could play an offie/leggie combination without having to make a deep sacrifice on the batting or pace bowling front to fit them in.

Don’t think management will do anything so radical as to play two spinners, but it really ought to be an option. Must be tempting to have an offie/leggie combination.