Cricket Today - Chapter 3 - Leg Spin

Shane Warne retired. That signifies so much. Three words cover half the ideas, thoughts and opinions regarding leg spin today. So Warney retired; who’s left?

We come against another poser – if Shane is not there anymore, who will take over the reigns? I suppose it is safe to assume that nobody in the near future will dominate over most batsmen in such magnitude and with such ease as Warne did all these years at least in the near future. Hats off to you mate.

Take a tour around the world. In Australia, there is Stuart MacGill who is looking to replace Shane Warne, at least in the test side. Although there has been some controversy over the selectors’ not intending to pick him, only time will tell. If MacGill makes it in and gets one good game, George Bradley Hogg will continue to stay out of the test team for some more time. Although there are not that many conspicuous upcoming leggies down under, for the sake of the art, let’s hope Australia hold some surprises.

New Zealand don’t need a leggie with Daniel Vettori doing almost the same thing, but New Zealand have not produced as many spinners as they’d like; Vettori has been the long standing spinner, Paul Wiseman whose career is over and the young Jitan Patel are the only others (none of these three are leg spinners.)

Bangladesh have three left arm spinners so they’ll be looking for an off spinner rather than a leg spinner, someone even part time like Gayle for example.

India have leg spinners, two (one right on top and one moving sharply upwards in the ratings and fans’ hearts) – Anil Kumble and Piyush Chawla. Kumble has quit from ODI cricket and probably has another two seasons of Test match cricket left in him. Piyush Chawla on the other hand is a youngster and has years of international cricket left in him. Judging by the way he has matured between his only test against England in early 2006 and the recent ODI in Bangladesh, it will not be long before he comes of age.

Pakistan has Danish Kaneria. Kanenria is a very effective leggie. He has a nice action, good trajectory, but somehow, he sometimes goes 40 overs wicketless. That is only because of some minor flaw, either technically or strategically and if that is taken care of, he is certainly capable of castling batsmen more often and with more ease than he does at present. No one else in the subcontinent – the subcontinent is supposed to support spinners. Leg spin is the more attractive art, more youngsters are choosing leg spin over off spin but there are still not enough at the top.

England and South Africa have absolutely nobody. Not even in the County circuit in England can you find a leg spinner worthy of the long term national place. Time will pass and we will find out more.-BS