Chris Schofield

England should play with a balanced side, no matter what the pitch is expected to do, and a leg spinner is top priority at them moment. After the failure of Ian Salisbury to trouble any of the world's top batsmen, it is time for Schofield to be given an extended run against the West Indies. If he is as good as Terry Jenner says he is, then he will be a great addition to the national team, All the world's best teams have an excellent spinner or two, who often carve up the opposition's middle order. If this lad can spin the ball and exert some control, then he surely must be given his chance. ...  Read the complete review

Australia have Shane Warne. India have Anil Kumble. Pakistan have Saqlain and Mushtaq. Sri Lanka have Muralithuran. It seems that the world’s leading teams all have spinners who are capable of regularly bowling sides out. England, however, have been landed with Ian Salisbury, Phil Tufnell and Robert Croft, bowlers whose collective incompetence has been an embarrassment. On wickets that are going to turn, we have been faced with a problem; clearly we should select a spinner since they will be the match winners on this pitch, but is it worth picking a spinner when they blatantly aren’t good enough. It was therefore good for English cricket the a leg ...  Read the complete review