England must solve spin mysteries

13 April 2012

England's hopes for success in Pakistan will stand or fall on their ability to overcome their shortcomings in Lahore and learn quickly how to adapt to spin-friendly surfaces in the sub-continent.  

Friday's emphatic eight-wicket defeat at the Colonel Gaddafi Stadium did more than just level the one-day international series, which reaches its finale in Rawalpindi on Monday.

It also put down a marker for the challenge England face if they are to emerge successful from the three Tests in the next six weeks.

The magical spinning mystery of Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Afridi and Mushtaq Ahmed bamboozled England's batsmen completely, restricting them to a modest total of 211 for nine, which Pakistan cruised past with 5.2 overs remaining.

It is not a new problem to English batsmen, who witness top class spinners on turning wickets all too infrequently during a domestic season, but it is one they must find a solution to or face a long and miserable winter both in Pakistan and in Sri Lanka in the new year.

"When you come to Asia you are going to come unstuck against spin every now and then," admitted captain Nasser Hussain.

"When you are here you have Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed; when you go to India you'll have Anil Kumble, and go to Sri Lanka and face Muttiah Muralitharan - so it's not a great mystery.

"We got bowled out by spin, but that's what's going to happen out here - spinners are going to bowl and they're going to bowl well, and it's up to us to work hard and try and get better against it."

To do that, though, requires experience and time - two factors which England have in short supply, with only Alec Stewart and Michael Atherton in the whole squad having previously played Test matches in the sub-continent.

"It's not the end of the world, what happened. But obviously we've got to learn and learn quickly, and the only way to do that is getting some time in the nets, practise and practise hard," stressed Hussain.

"I don't particularly blame the boys because they don't see an awful lot of spin, apart from seeing Saqlain and Mushtaq at various times in the season. But on a turning wicket like that it was a contest, and we didn't win it.

"We knew when we came out here we would be playing on turning wickets, and that's what happened. It's no surprise; that's the norm out here, and I think we're just a bit spoiled in England, where the ball doesn't turn."

An additional problem for the tourists when Pakistan made their reply was the thick company of hundreds of flies which forced Darren Gough to bowl in sun-glasses and Craig White to sport his England cap while he was running in.

"They were a problem but they had no bearing on the game," added Hussain. "We didn't lose the game because of the flies.

"The bowlers were getting them in their eyes and down their throats, but that's no excuse. It was just very uncomfortable and something we're not used to in England."

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