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Jack Leach

I think Root is the key point in this debate, if we did not have him would be a bit different but like you say he is more than capable.

It’s all relative to me, in a ideal world everybody on this board would want your first choice specialist spinner into the side.

But you have to work out how good that first choice spinner is and what he gives to your side in the overall picture.

Lawrence is a reasonable part time off-spinner.

I think Bess is maybe more suited to Australian conditions than the subcontinent. Took 6 wickets for the Lions.
 

You cant blame Jack Leach like

he hasnt played a test in ten months, then gets thrown in out of nowhere, with absolutely no cricket

very unfair people judging him on that
He's been completely messed around. Also unlucky with his illness. Had he been consistently played then he doesn't have that performance the other day in my opinion.

Him being in and out of the side really hasn't helped him develop. He's spent 2 years barely playing cricket. Gets far more stick than our batsman who have failed time and time again in that period.

Spinners at test level that aren't Asian generally need time and age on their side to have an impact. He hasn't been awarded any real time. Due to being in and out.

Swann made his test debut when he 29 and became our best or second best. Depending on your age. Leach still can have his best years ahead of him.

Albeit not saying Leach is Ben Stokes. But I look back to 2014 and see how fans and media treated Ben. When they attacked him for multiple ducks as he batted 8/9 and Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes were better picks in their completely wrong eyes. This place was the only Ben Stokes fans at that time.

Completely unfair when the player wasn't being utilised in the right way and I see the same with leach. Moeen got the same unfair press.

Were f***ing harsh to any spinner cos they aren't Graeme Swann. When the reason we've not been number 1 since 2012 has largely been our batsman.

I defend Root on most things, as he gets totally unfair criticism IMO, but when they came back from India and Leach was brilliant he had to stay in the team

they totally mismanaged him this summer, on the basis that Stokes wasnt fit

I think their argument is that Stokes AND Woakes werent available, and he would have played eben if Woakes was there but I just think, for the NZ seriesi n particular, why not play him, his record in England isn't bad

I just assumed that meant they wouldn't play him, so was pleasntly surprised he played v Brisbane

Adelaide turns like so they need a spinner really like
 
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He's only 24. Better average than Root.

Does anyone blame Jack? I blame the selection
Don’t think anyone would blame him as such as comes across as decent bloke.

It’s a question of what he brings to the side and whether he is good enough.

Personally I don’t think he is never have tbh.

What makes it worse for him and why he should not get selected imo is that be playing him we have to leave a very good bowler out of the side.
 
Root doesn’t rate him so I don’t know why he keeps getting selected in the squad. Not fair for him.

England do need to back a spinner though and play him regularly don’t care if it’s Bess, Crane, Parkinson or someone else but play a spinner
 
He must be sick as a chip watching part time spinners taking wickets on a pitch more suited to spin bowling.
 
If he didn’t go for 10 an over last game he might of been picked
7.84, on a wicket unsuited to spin.

Why did we even take him if we had doubts he couldn't hold down an end?

Matt Parkinson or Mason Crane were available
 
He must be sick as a chip watching part time spinners taking wickets on a pitch more suited to spin bowling.
I mean 3 of the wickets were all slogs caught on the boundary

But considering Robinson apparently bowled offspin earlier and Lyon is looking superb.

You're not wrong.
 
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Root doesn’t rate him so I don’t know why he keeps getting selected in the squad. Not fair for him.

England do need to back a spinner though and play him regularly don’t care if it’s Bess, Crane, Parkinson or someone else but play a spinner
This is the big issue, Root doesn't rate him
 
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