England coach Brendon McCullum has stated that they wouldn't hesitate to deploy an all-spin bowling attack in the remaining matches of the Test series between India and England.
England staged a remarkable comeback to secure one of their most memorable Test victories in Hyderabad last week. On a turning pitch, England opted for three spinners and only one fast bowler in the form of Mark Wood.
Two out of their three spinners had a combined experience of just one Test before the match. But still, they emerged victorious against an experienced Indian lineup.
During England's previous Test series in India in 2021, after winning the first Test in Chennai, the pitches for the subsequent matches started displaying significant turn. McCullum disclosed that if a similar scenario unfolds this time, England is ready to counter it by relying on their spinners, as he spoke to SENZ Radio.
Apart from the three spinners who played in the first Test, England also have Shoaib Bashir in their squad, who faced visa issues leading to a delay in his arrival in India. McCullum said that if they feel the pitch for the second Test in Vizag looks like it would turn more than the one in Hyderabad, Bashir might come into the picture as well.
“He (Bashir) was obviously with us in the camp in Abu Dhabi and he really impressed with his skill sets. He fits in the group. He, again, like Tom Hartley, has little first-class experience, but we thought his skill could help us in here.
“He turned up at a perfect time, really (in Hyderabad). When he arrived, the guys gave him a huge cheer and he got to witness something pretty special with the fellas bowling us to a Test win. Look, he comes into calculations for the next Test match.
“If the wickets continue to spin as much as what we saw in the first Test as the series goes on, we won’t be afraid to play all spinners or a balance of what we’ve got.”
The English coach also praised Ben Stokes for his management of debutant Tom Hartley, who subsequently played a prominent role in the second innings with his seven-wicket haul. In the first innings, Hartley conceded 63 runs in his initial nine overs, drawing scrutiny towards Stokes for allowing him an extended spell despite his struggles to maintain control.
McCullum, however, was all praise for the skipper for sticking with Hartley: “I thought the way Ben Stokes handled Tom Hartley in the first innings when he bowled him an extended spell regardless of the fact that he was getting put under pressure by the Indian batters, I thought that was a real sign of leadership.
“It was a clear message to not just Tom but those that are around the squad that when we talk about freedom and we talk about taking the game on and trying to come in and make a difference, you’re not going to be cast aside or taken off the crease on the first sign of danger. So I thought it was a magnificent sort of a decision by the skipper to do that. It allowed Tom to feel like he belonged.”
