Jack Leach is a major doubt for the second Test match against India after sustaining a knee injury in Hyderabad. Here’s how England could replace him for the game in Vizag.

The injury to Leach poses England possibly the most difficult selection dilemma possible in the squad they’ve picked. Leach isn’t only their senior spinner, he is their only spinner with any significant experience in Test cricket, Rehan Ahmed the next most experienced with two Test caps to his name. While Leach hasn’t been officially ruled out yet, he didn’t bowl in training two days out from the start of the Test, and wore compression tights as he sat on the sidelines.

Leach was also the only frontline spinner who was able to play a containing role for England in the first innings at Hyderabad. Tom Hartley was expensive in the first innings and Ahmed, as expected for a 19-year-old leg-spinner, also leaked runs. While Hartley was almost unrecognisably better in the second innings, Leach’s absence would put immeasurable pressure on him in a slightly different role in the second Test. Joe Root’s control with the ball should give England some comfort, but Leach’s role in the side in Indian conditions is irreplaceable.

A Test debut for Shoaib Bashir?

Bashir arrived in India during the Hyderabad Test after complications over his visa applications. He is the only option currently in the England squad to act as a straight swap for Leach. In his favour is that he offers a variation in angle with the ball, Hartley and Leach both being left-armers. England’s philosophy of attributes over experience also applies to him, with Hartley showing the benefits of the same high release point Bashir has in Hyderabad. Equally, Stokes’ track-record with rookie spinners during his tenure has been successful, with Ahmed, Hartley and Will Jacks all taking five-fors on their debuts under his captaincy.

There’s no escaping, however, that a three-pronged spin attack with three previous Test matches under their belt is an unnerving prospect in comparison with an attack containing R Ashwin. Even though Leach was only able to play a limited role in terms of overs bowled in Hyderabad, having him to lean on in the field and to, at the very least, dry up an end with a few overs seems preferable over throwing another debutant into the cauldron.

Two seamers?

Mark Wood was England’s only seamer in Hyderabad, finishing the Test wicketless having bowled 25 overs. The injury to Leach and prospect of throwing a debutant spinner into the mix, opting for a seamer instead maybe the safer option – although not in the Stokes-McCullum mould. James Anderson would be the most likely option, with Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson also in the squad. There’s also precedent for seamers in Vizag. Two Tests have been hosted by the ground before, and while spin has dominated as expected, there was something on offer for seamers in both matches.

Mohammed Shami took five-for in the fourth innings against South Africa in Vizag in 2019, while 14 wickets fell to pace across England’s last visit there in 2016 – Anderson taking four of those. With Root showing his ability to act as a third spinner, picking another seamer may be the selection that makes most sense.

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