England's next spinner...

In a few years time when Graeme Swann decides to call it a day, who is likely to be England's next frontline spinner?

There are a fair few about in county cricket at this moment in time, but do any of them really have that same match winning ability that Swann has? Do any of them really turn it as much as the Notts man does?

I'm not so sure, and it would certainly be a worry. Many of the spinners in county cricket tend to be containing as opposed to aggressive, but in my view to be the best side in the world you need a spinner capable of both, something which Swann has provided with aplomb in the last couple of years.

Any suggestions as to viable options? A lot will obviously depend on how the candidates develop in the next season or two, of course.

It's difficult to say to be honest. I mean look at Swann, I am not sure how many people would have picked him to become the bowler he has become when he was at a younger age! And he didn't break in the England side till he was 30, so it is hard to say what spinners who are 23/24/25 now will be doing in 5 years, near impossible!

The frontline candidates are people like Rashid - who still has question marks over his attitude, Briggs - who is a good ODI/T20 bowler but still to prove it in the 4 day stuff and Borthwick - who is still yet to completely convince me and do it consistently! So in answer to your question Fists, it could be anyone! I have no idea, haha. The one name I will throw out to keep an eye on is George Dockrell of Somerset. Lot of potential in all forms of the game.

I rate Dockrell, a very good bowler even at this stage.

You're right, tough to tell if you think that Swann was a late developer so to speak. It sure would be nice to have a youngster capable of it now though, so as to get plenty of years out of them! It'll be a shame if we have to wait for them all to reach 30!

Keep an eye on Kerrigan I say.

borthwick

na in all seriousness.........

Monty is clearly the selectors 2nd choice in the test format, and no one else has done enough yet, to challenge him

Borthwick you would say is after monty, however kerrigan is very promising, sadly rashid got treated poorly, and has taken a backward step.

Chris Metters

I rate Metters, Hoggy. Watched him a few times down at Edgbaston last year and he had a great deal of success. He has been awarded a new contract with Warks this year so hopefully he kicks on and continues to improve.

Hopefully fists.
Just shows that, along with virtually every other position (apart, perhaps, from opening batsmen), England have a lot of young spinners coming through at the moment.

Metter's action is very awkward has anyone else noticed that. It dosent look natural to him, and it messes with his lengths, i saw him bowl in a few 4 day matches this season, and he wasnt that impressive

now obviously you two know more about him than me, but i wasnt overly impressed with him.

We do have to remember that spinners mature later than most cricketers, and are often at their peak from ages 28-29 onwards, so like JD says it's hard to tell at this stage. Thoughts on some various candidates:

Rashid: doesn't cut it for me, sorry. Doesn't really turn the ball enough to be a threat in test cricket, and seems to lack something in the mental approach.

Borthwick: I like the look of him, though he's not the finished product yet. Not afraid to give the ball air, and does turn it (as you'd expect from a leggie). He has a few more years in the county game to develop, but could be the genuine article.

Kerrigan: looks a good prospect too, though I'd rate him slightly below Borthwick.

Briggs: probably more of a limited-overs specialist at this point, typically of the new generation seems more intent on keeping a lid on the scoring first, taking wickets second. Still time to work on it though.

Dockrell: looks extremely promising to me, but would rather he stayed with Ireland, and hopefully by the time his time for England would come Ireland will be close to Test status. Probably the best of the bunch.

Dockrell looks the most likely for me, very calm under pressure and his bowling will only have improved by the time Swann calls it a day.
Dockrell, also has indicated his desire to play Test cricket for England as he knows Ireland will not be given Test status any time soon.

borthwick is certianly the way forward in odi cricket, in test matches its not as clear, with monty being the selectors favourite as no2

It may well be Panesar for a couple of years giving other spinners more time to develop. As MfC says, spinners are usually quite late blossomers (even Warne improved greatly as a bowler after his shoulder injury in 98).

Borthwick looks the real deal to me as far as talent goes. Word on the grapevine is he is prepared to put the hard yards in, whereas Rashid thought he knew it all, and didn't impress with his attitude.

Not seen much of Kerrigan. Briggs looks average to me, a decent county bowler but would be surprised if he made the step up. A poor man's Doherty.

Dockrell is a great talent (although whether he really turns it enough to be successful in the longer format remains to be seen), but I'd be extremely disappointed if he ever played for England.

Surrey won the CB40 often fielding a side with 5 spin bowlers. But I wouldn't think many of them are likely to trouble the England team sheet in the near future.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Surrey won the CB40 often fielding a side with 5 spin bowlers. But I wouldn't think many of them are likely to trouble the England team sheet in the near future.

Schofield I reckon.....

In all seriousness I really like the look of Kerrigan. Borthwick maybe as a second spinner/All rounder in ODI's if he can improve his batting.

In all honesty there aren't a lot of very gifted spinners around the World at present. Other than Swann, Ajmal and now Ashwin, most spinners are very negative.

In England's case Swann could play until 40.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Surrey won the CB40 often fielding a side with 5 spin bowlers. But I wouldn't think many of them are likely to trouble the England team sheet in the near future.

Corporal - no disagreement with that although I would emphasise to any non Surrey regulars looking in that the one who has the best chance is Zafar Ansari. Not the most naturally gifted of spinners but a very intelligent young bowler and cricketer ....

Zafar Ansari is promising, but first he needs a regualr sport in cc side.