England Mull Spin Quartet for Visakhapatnam Test, Brendon McCullum Hints For Bold Move

England Test cricket team coach Brendon McCullum, as bold in his coaching strategies as he was during his playing days, has hinted at a potentially historic move for the upcoming second Test against India in Vizag (Visakhapatnam) starting on February 2nd.

Following the impressive performance of England’s spinners in the first Test at Hyderabad, McCullum has suggested that he might field a four-pronged spin attack in Vizag. This would be a remarkable departure from traditional strategies and a testament to England’s newfound confidence in their spinning department.

Talented young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who missed the first Test due to visa issues, has now joined the squad and is expected to make his debut in Vizag, further bolstering England’s spin options.

England arrived in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday with doubts over Jack Leach’s fitness ahead of the second Test against India, but head coach Brendon McCullum hinted at the possibility of fielding an unprecedented four-pronged spin attack if conditions permit.

Leach, England’s primary spinner, sustained a bruised knee during the dramatic comeback victory in Hyderabad and bowled only briefly in the second innings. His availability will depend on fitness assessments closer to the match.

However, even if Leach is declared fit, the dry pitch at the ACA-VDCA could tempt England to unleash their full array of slow bowlers. Mark Wood, the lone seamer in Hyderabad, had minimal impact with 25 wicketless overs across both innings.

“If the wickets continue to spin as much as what we saw in the first Test, we won’t be afraid to play all spinners, or a balance of what we’ve got,” McCullum told SENZ radio.

This bold approach reflects England’s confidence in their young spin trio of Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and the recently arrived Shoaib Bashir. Hartley, a surprise debutant in Hyderabad, impressed everyone with his 7-62 in the second innings, recovering brilliantly after a tough first evening against Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“He’s only played a handful of first-class games and was probably a bit of a punt, selection-wise,” McCullum acknowledged. “But we saw something in him and he’s a tough character. The skipper (Ben Stokes) handled him brilliantly, and it allowed Tom to feel like he belonged and knew what his role was.”

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McCullum praised Stokes’ leadership in backing Hartley through a challenging initial spell, drawing parallels with the early career of Australia’s Nathan Lyon. Lyon also had limited first-class experience when he debuted, but has since become a leading spin bowler.

“Let’s not forget Nathan Lyon,” McCullum said. “He had similar experience when he first got picked, and look at his career now. Sometimes you have to take a punt, and this one came off beautifully.”

While James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, and Ollie Robinson remain in the mix for potential returns, England’s willingness to prioritize spin could be a defining feature of the series. The second Test begins in Visakhapatnam on February 9th, with all eyes on whether McCullum’s bold vision translates into another historic victory for England.