World T20, Eng-Afg: Trial by spin

NEW DELHI: England's dislike for all forms of slow bowling is not a new phenomenon. The founders of Twenty20 cricket have struggled to dominate bowlers with pace off the ball and that's going to be one of their biggest challenges as the 2016 ICC World T20 heads into the business end.
Moving on from the 'greener' pastures of Mumbai to the 'drier' surroundings of New Delhi mean that the Englishman will have to be wary of threat posed by the spinner - at least for the next two games.First up for them will be 'minnows' Afghanistan, who also boast of competent tweakers in the form of Mohammad Nabi (off-break) and Samiullah Shenwari (leg-spinner).
The think-tank seems convinced that the track at the Ferozeshah Kotla will aid spin which has prompted them to consider drafting in left-arm spinner Liam Dawson in their playing XI. "We just had a net session yesterday and we haven't seen that ball turn as much as it did here. But I don't expect that to happen in the match on Wednesday. All that we can do is prepare as best as you can for the game," England skipper Eoin Morgan said here on Tuesday.

The English side are coming into this series on the back of a T20 series against South Africa. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir was the one bowler who troubled them the most, claiming five wickets in the three T20s and maintained an economy rate of 5.75. Pakistan's Shahid Afridi also troubled their batsmen in the series which took place in the UAE, taking five wickets with an economy rate of 5.58.
"I think the closest we came to turning tracks was in UAE and I think we managed to handle that well. I am not quite sure what the pitch is going to do. I expected a dry pitch but there is a lot of grass on it. To be honest I don't what it's going to do. We will have to leave as late as possible to select a side," Morgan.
A closer look at the bowling statistics against England in previous World T20 matches show that Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is the highest wicket-taker against them in the tournament. Batsmen like Alex Hales, Jason Roy and Jos Buttler are dangerous players when ball comes on to the bat but their techniques will be severely tested on the slower pitches.
The team support-staff, however, boasts of the likes of Trevor Bayliss and Paul Collingwood - both of whom know a thing or two about tackling spin. Bayliss has been Sri Lankan and Kolkata Knight Riders coach in the past while Collingwood was one of the best players of spin in his playing days.
How their inputs translate into results will only be visible in the next couple of English ties at the Kotla.