Saqlain Mushtaq will complete his latest stint as England’s freelance spin-bowling consultant following the third Test with India but has made a pitch for a full-time role to be created for him after four positive weeks with the side.
The former Pakistan international, who claimed 208 wickets in 49 Tests between 1995 and 2004, was originally hired for just the first fortnight of the tour but his contract was extended by Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, after positive feedback from the spinners and markedly improved performances from Adil Rashid in particular.
Saqlain, who was first used by England during the summer and will return for a third brief spell at the start of the limited-overs series with India in January, said: “We should have full-time spin coaches, not just for the main team but on the county circuit as well. It is not just on the subcontinent, on the fourth and fifth day of a Test match the spinners are the main bowlers. The whole team relies on them. And it is not just to look after the spinners but it is to help the batsmen as to how the spinners think as well. So it is very important to have a full-time spin coach.”
Asked if he would want such a job with England himself, he replied: “I would love to. I’m enjoying it, every session, every conversation during the breaks. I’m loving the support staff and everyone, it is like a family. It is a relaxed atmosphere but a professional one.”
Strauss will review the coaching support provided for England’s spinners at the end of the current tour but has stated that he does not feel an equivalent position to that of the fast-bowling coach, Ottis Gibson, or the batting coach, Mark Ramprakash, is required. Graeme Swann, whose retirement in 2013 exposed a dearth in replacements, has claimed this approach treats slow bowlers like “third-class citizens”.
If a permanent role would require a change in outlook from Strauss, then Saqlain’s work with England’s spinners on the current tour, which has been consistently talked up by both Trevor Bayliss and Alastair Cook, will likely lead to further spells with the team in the future at least.
Rashid, who claimed 13 wickets in the first two Tests with India and exerted previously lacking control, certainly appears to be benefiting.
“Rashid is a very skilful guy,” said Saqlain. “He has got all the things a top class leg-spinner requires – a wrong ’un, a top-spinner, a leggie, a front of the hand, a flipper – he just needs to keep working on them and keep things simple. But he’s got everything. I think he can achieve the highest level as a leg-spinner.
On Moeen Ali, who has long been saddled with the tag of part-time spinner but is closing in on 100 Test wickets, he added: “I think he is a proper off-spinner. The way he bowls, the energy, the shape of the ball, the control, everything. He’s improving and the more he works hard and the more he plays the longer version, the more mileage he will get and you can rate him in the top three off-spinners in the world.”
