After starting the summer under pressure to retain his place in the side, off spinner Nathan Lyon responded by bowling Australia to victory in Adelaide last week.
This unexpected display of dominance by an Aussie spinner has me convinced we should play two spinners at least once this summer.
When engaging in guerrilla warfare, one should aim to identify their opponent’s strengths, then seek to use them to their advantage. This strategy was employed brilliantly by the Australian side in the first Test.
With the Indian team expecting a pace onslaught, our quicks instead lulled the visitors into a false sense of security. Lyon then proceeded to feast on their entrails, in a gladiatorial display rarely associated with male pattern baldness.
As there is a strong chance English curators will serve up more sub-continental dustbowls for next year’s Ashes, the selectors should reconsider our one spinner policy this summer.
While ill-advised in Brisbane, subsequent Tests in Melbourne and Sydney provide the perfect opportunity to pair Lyon with a spin twin.
This would ideally be a leggie, with Fawad Ahmed again featuring prominently on the wicket takers list this season. If he is deemed too old, a younger spinner like Cameron Boyce or Adam Zampa could be considered.
While neither man had dazzled at Sheffield Shield level, Boyce demonstrated his ability to perform on the big stage against South Africa earlier this season. A debut in Australian conditions, with the crowd behind them, is certainly preferable to blooding a spinner in an Ashes series.
Of course, Rod Marsh and company could also do worse than giving Stephen O’Keefe another run, after a solid debut against Pakistan in October. His batting ability would also add depth to the line-up.
Fortunately, the selectors’ current preference for two medium-fast bowling all-rounders also provides the flexibility for the side to drop back to two specialist quicks on occasion.
The dearth of wily part-time spinners in the side also limits bowling variety. Long gone are the days of Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Michael Bevan or Darren Lehmann presenting their skipper with a viable spin alternative.
This ultimately leaves our attack with a distinct ‘pace or bust’ appearance, with the notable exception of the domineering Lyon. Unless Peter Siddle ups his banana intake to dangerous levels, he appears to lack penetration and is ultimately replaceable.
This leaves Ryan Harris’ ghost knee and Mitch Johnson’s gunslinger mo to fight the good fight on the fast bowling front. Rather than throwing in another quick and hoping for the best, let’s continue the guerrilla warfare tactics.
The pen is mightier than the sword, and this summer, perhaps our spinners will trump their pace bowling teammates. Let’s hope our selectors have the nerve to mess with the heads of the Indian side by serving up an entree of spin, and see if their batsmen choke.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Fair call, Thugby. I worry about Watson and Marsh in same team together with their combined injury history. Hopes is more durable than both of them, but not enough of a hype player to grab selectors' attention. I can't understand why Voges is behind S Marsh in Test queue. Very strange.
Alexander Bonacci
Roar Rookie
Not too bad of an idea as like you said we have Marsh and Watto there to back up. Maybe Smith could bowl a few overs instead of bringing in another spinner. Even give Warner a go
ThugbyFan
Guest
Having both Watto and Mitch Marsh in the team with 3 quicks seems to me to be overkill with two similar players. Obviously the selectors want to stack the batting with good batsmen (not quality test batsmen) who are also medium pacers good for 10 overs in a day. I would drop one of them (most likely whoever gets injured first) and bring in Adam Voges. He is as good a batsman as Watson or Marsh and adds another dimension to the bowling attack with his legspin. This means a two-prong spin attack with Lyons and Voges or Voges bowls a few overs in the middle overs to give the speed merchants a rest. Smith could also roll his arm though I'm not sure what his intentions are in that area now that he is the captain also. Other than Voges, bring back Ashton Agar or SOK to replace either Marsh or Watson although the batting suffers a little. They are better front-line bowlers than Voges and both Agar and SOK are pretty reasonable with the bat so you're not swapping a good batsman with a dud.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Possibly, Toy. I certainly thought he was an effective and underrated bowler.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I don't understand either. SOK has been a big wicket taker for several years now, and certainly deserved his chance against Pakistan.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Absolutely. I don't understand why certainly players end up having long Test careers despite inconsistent and often mediocre performances, as well as being horrendously injury prone.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
The loss of Warne and Murali in the last few years has certainly had an impact on global spinning stocks overall, and I think it will take another star like one of them to bring spin back to the forefront of the game.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Fair enough, Bob. You're most likely right, but it's nice to imagine the selectors thinking outside the box occasionally.
Bob Sims
Guest
I just don't think it's going to happen, Daniel, but if it does, I hope it's SOK who gets the nod to partner Lyon (despite invalid howls of protest from Don Freo). The only other prospect would be if Australia went into the last Test 3-0 up and wanted to give Boyce a run, with a view to Ashes squad inclusion.
mactheblack
Guest
Spin though it is making its mark as a proven weapon - here and there - is truly being relegated to cricket's sidelines these days. The mere fact that this article is asking should two spinners be brought into the fray proves my point. However, having said that, surely Fawad Ahmed has no experience at this level? How sure can we be he will be effective? Nathan Lyon has shown what he can do by taking a sackful of wickets - can only give him confidence. Except for the Asian teams who employ spin a lot more - spin has unfairly become a option of last resort generally speaking. Understandably when the target is smaller, or is being chased down to the point where it is possible to lose - you as a captain and a team are a bit uncertain, whether spin would be an ideal option. So the ball will be tossed to your express quicks or/and pacemen. But just look at what Lyon did, when the game was drifting from them - or seemed to be in Adelaide. It's all about confidence. South Africa had a bad reputation for not giving spin a chance - they have slowly learnt to make it part of their weaponry. They were criticised. But on the whole, generally, among all teams, spin as an attacking option is being relegated to the sidelines - unfairly so! Pakistan an exception but look at all the problems they are having with spinners being tested for bent wrists? The only exception of recent - was that man Shane Warne. He could of course turn it on anything - and was adept at using his art as an attacking/intimidating weapon!
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Katich had an excellent record for a bowler described as a 'partnership breaker'. Used to do my head in how underused he was. That might have been his choice though.
Matt
Guest
This guy here loves his non-factual contrarian stances I've noticed. Suggests Somerville is bowling with 'penetration' and 'class' which are those hard-to-discredit observations because they are in the eye of the beholder (there was nothing classy about his 0/100 at the MCG which I was in the stadium to witness). But those things don't get you a spot in the team, wickets do. SOK takes a lot of wickets for very few runs. I've never understood the treatment of SOK. He has a record to match many pacers who have been given runs in the test team. Not that I think Lyon should lose his spot, just that most of the arguments against SOK's game don't hold much weight, otherwise his bowling record would not be as exceptional as it is. If 'penetration' and 'class' made for better bowlers, then bowlers with those skills would have better records.
13th Man
Roar Pro
Hopes is another one like Voges, Klinger, SOK and Hartley that have been fantastic shield players that will probably never get a chance to play much tests for Australia. I rate Hopes but unfortunately for him the selectors have persevered with that crab Watson for far too long.
13th Man
Roar Pro
Hopes is another one like Voges, Klinger, SOK and Hartley that have been fantastic shield players that will probably never get a chance to play much tests for Australia. I rate Hopes but unfortunately for him the selectors have persevered with that crab Watson for far too long.
13th Man
Roar Pro
Not without Graeme Swann However Ali is doing quite well. Think they will produce pitches which suit Broad and Anderson. Which means they will also suit Ryno Starc and Cummins.
13th Man
Roar Pro
As if NSW usually play two spinners when Lyon is around. Why do u hate O Keefe so much? I dont understand it his record is very good.
13th Man
Roar Pro
Alright fair enough Even if maxwell could become a good enough bowler I doubt his batting would be good enough to be a second spinner. Agar needs time to develop as you said. Agree with you on the leggies but right now if I had to pick a second spinner its SOK. Boyce and Zampa need more time to develop. What about Hoggy, he is getting younger and younger???
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I'll pass on your phone number, Paul. Boyce wouldn't be first spinner selected on potential over first class performance. Nathan Lyon was in the same boat, but with less first class experience prior to his Test selection. That selection has worked out quite well. Another spinner you may have heard of also made his debut after snaring just 26 first class wickets. Glenn Mitchell mentions him in this great article - http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/11/13/recent-test-debutants-given-raw-deal/
Paul Brock
Guest
By that logic, the selectors should give my leggies a run in the Sydney Test. There's only one way to find out how I'd go.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Voges is certainly a wily left arm spinner, and arguably a more consistent batsman than S Marsh. Hopefully he'll get an opportunity in the Test side in the next 12 months if his current form continues.