Comeback_Kenwyne
Striker
England like spinners who can hold down an end and bat or they tend to be passengers in the first innings. Amar Virdi makes Monty Panesar look like a decent batsman. Moeen can bat but not hold down an end. Leach, despite his heroics at Headingley and Lords, is a number 11. They settled on Bess as he was useful at both and 'one for the future. His performances in South Africa were outstanding. Unfortunately he has struggled for consistency and lost his line and length in India but you don't just chuck a young player like that on the scrap heap.
Everyone was fapping themselves about Critchley before we played Derbyshire and he served up some absolute buffet stuff to Bedingham on an unsympathetic wicket. Being able to keep things tight on unfriendly wickets is, unfortunately, part of an England spinner's remit.
Mooen is a fourth innings bowler; Bess a first. Each to their own, but I know which one i'd rather have with four seamers like.
Leach is a bit of both, but I certainly wouldn't say Bess's batting is worth keeping him ahead of Leach.