England to follow 'horses for courses' strategy for forthcoming tour of India

We have seen in the ongoing series between Australia and Sri Lanka, Australia employed the strategy of ‘horses for courses’ in third Test match to get spin specialist on the side. England seems to have taken some note from that, as they are employing the same strategy for their forthcoming tours to Bangladesh and India.

In a freewheeling chat on BBC’s Test Match Special, Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell selected their eleven for the tour to Asia. Even though the 38-year old Gareth Batty is not included in the squad currently, the duo said that there could be a surprise recall for the Surrey off-spinner.

Being impressed with his bowling record of having 36 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 29.47 in the ongoing first-class season, Vaughan said, “Would you pick the best county spinner? Who is it? It’s Gareth Batty.”

Tufnell supported his thoughts saying that the strategy is to select their ideal squad for Asia. “I think it’ll be horses for courses in India, so I think he might have a chance. Why not? You take your best spinner to India because it’s going to spin there.”

He made his Test debut against Bangladesh way back in October 2003 and played his last Test match against the same opponent two years later in June 2005. He played 7 Test matches and claimed 11 wickets at an average of 66.63.

Alec Stewart backed his inclusion by affirming, “I’d bring Gareth Batty back as a one-off for this Test winter.”

"I'd bring Gareth Batty back as a one-off for this Test winter…"

Do you agree with @StewieCricket? pic.twitter.com/tHccQYOhwQ

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 12, 2016

England’s tour to Bangladesh is in doubt due to security concerns, however, their tour to India will go as scheduled starting on November 9 at Rajkot.

Vaughan & Tufnell‘s Squad:  Alastair Cook, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Haseeb Hameed, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Mark Wood, Liam Dawson, Jos Buttler, Sam Billings