India vs England 2020-21: Swann backs Leach and Bess to play crucial role for English success

India and England are scheduled to lock horns in a four-Test series for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, defended by the former. India is coming off a prolific win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Down Under, as both aims for success to stay in contention for ICC World Test Championship.

Team Newsable

London,Published: Jan 24, 2021, 1:54 PM IST

India is coming off a prolific performance in the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It would now shift its focus to the upcoming Anthony de Mello Trophy, against England, starting February 5.

Meanwhile, England, too, is having a great time in Sri Lanka, so far, having won the opening Test, while it looks slightly off in the second Test. England would be aiming to win against Lanka and India to stand a chance for the final in the ICC World Test Championship.

In what will be a tough challenge for England, former English spin legend, Graeme Swann has backed spinner, Jack Leach, to play a crucial role in his side's success. "Jack Leach is the one for me in India -- he has to run up and be prepared to bowl nothing, but straight deliveries, pitching middle stump and hitting middle stump," he said during The Hussain and Key Cricket Show on Sky Sports, reports PTI.

"If Jack Leach can do that and almost tie one end up bowling 40 overs a day, then you can rotate the strike bowlers in (Mark) Wood, (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad and get the other spinner attacking more. I do think this India team are getting better and better. I honestly was thinking until I saw the squad 'yes, India are good, but are they that good?'" added Swann.

Besides Leach, Swann has also backed young spinner Dom Bess to assist the former in the same department, especially on the slow Indian tracks, generally rank turners. "The one thing that I used to say to myself is, it's going to spin, and it does spin -- even on day one where they are fairly flat pitches," he continued.

"If you bowl well enough, especially against India, they play you very respectfully. There is not a Virender Sehwag in that current team; Virat Kohli when he bats against spin waits for the bad ball. India are very, very patient, but if you are willing to be patient and bowl all day, you will take wickets. You might have to work very hard for them and you'll lose some timber, which isn't a bad thing," concluded Swann.

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