Among England’s modern-day left-arm spinners, Ashley Giles and Monty Panesar were the ones to trouble Indian batsmen in India.
Panesar, being quicker through the air, played a big role in England’s Test series win here in 2012, while Giles’s leg stump-line from over the wicket did well to restrict India’s strong batting line-up in late 2001.
Current England left-arm spinner Jack Leach, however, will stick to his strengths.
“I watch a lot of spin videos to try and take things from the spinners.
“Monty bowled at a quicker pace in India, but I’m probably not going to be bowling the same speed. It’s more about how the ball gets to the batsman in terms of trajectory.
Besides, there have been other successful bowlers who didn’t bowl as fast as Monty did,”
Leach, who has played 12 Tests so far, said during Monday’s online interaction from Chennai.
“It’s about sticking to my strengths and knowing what my optimum speed is.”
The leg-stump line from over the wicket, however, was something the visitors had discussed in Sri Lanka, Leach said, though he prefers to bowl round the wicket.
