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England longing for the days of graeme swann Lack of spin bowling options left them on the brink of Ashes defeat adelaide,
Swann retired midway through 2013–14 after another defeat, but the tourists were anything to go by for a bowler of his caliber after his failure to adequately fulfill the role in the third Test.
He took 255 Test wickets at an average of less than 30, along with an economy rate of less than three per over, such numbers would have helped him keep Australia in control as they created an impenetrable position on the third day of the third Test.
Instead, they saw their rivals rack up a massive lead of 356 with six wickets still in hand and secure an unbeatable 3-0 scoreline in two days.
Jack Leach and Liam Dawson were dropped by the selectors and are in poor form Shoaib Bashir Despite traveling as the designated first choice, batting all-rounder Will Jacks has been asked to fill in with modest results on Australia’s most favorable turning surface.
Unlike opposite number Nathan Lyon, he was unable to find the consistency required to stop an experienced arm like Travis Head, whose 142 took the game out of sight, and his 19 overs yielded 107 runs, including a dozen fours and a six.
spin coach Jeetan PatelThe latest in a series of three assistants sent to speak on behalf of an ailing team, admitted: “Would we have liked Graeme Swann in there? Maybe, but it’s a reality of where we are and what we thought we needed for this game.
“I don’t think Jackie has bowled badly, if anything he has been a touch short or straight touch at times. They have played him very well and tried to put him under pressure, which is probably what you would do against a spinner of Jackie’s nature, where it is not his frontline skills. He is probably 50-50.
“We all know why he was picked… we felt we needed extra batting cover.”
As for 22-year-old rookie Bashir, who was specially groomed for this tour but seems to have lost all rhythm, Patel denied that he is being viewed as “unselected” with two Tests still left to play.
“Absolutely not. Next week is the next week. The week after that is the week after that,” he said.
England’s bowling card became further weak due to uncertainty over the fitness of Ben Stokes. After suffering from cramps and dehydration while batting for more than five hours in the scorching heat, he did not bowl a single over in the second innings, with the series in danger as Head retired.
England denied there was any specific issue with the injury, but it seems clear that the burden of his workload has once again come at a personal cost. England needing miracles, which have been Stokes’ specialty over the years, could be a serious problem.
“I think he’s pretty tired,” Patel said.
“We all know he doesn’t do anything at 80 per cent. Maybe he thought he was a risk, so he didn’t bowl. If he thinks he can’t do it at 100 per cent, I don’t think he’s going to do it. That’s probably where he is.
“He’s taken a lot out of himself to get to this point in the game. I think he might be a little tired and need some time to himself right now.”