England recall Anderson, Stokes and Rashid

Londres: England coach Trevor Bayliss has said it’s possible the team could field two specialist spinners at home after Yorkshire leg-break bowler Adil Rashid was called into the squad for the second Test against Pakistan.

With the pitch in Manchester expected to turn, and England 1-0 down in the four-match Investec Series against Pakistan, the selectors were debating the value of bringing in Rashid as a second spinner.

Pace bowler Anderson – his country’s leading Test wicket-taker – and all-rounder Stokes were anticipated to be included after returning from respective shoulder and knee injuries in Lancashire’s County Championship match against Durham at Southport last week.

Rashid’s call-up raises questions over the place of Moeen Ali, although it is possible both spin-bowling all-rounders could be selected – as they were for Rashid’s previous three Test outings against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates past year.

He was left out of the Test squad and will instead join England’s A side for their games against Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A this month.

Anderson and Stokes missed last week’s first Test loss at Lord’s through injury but are deemed fit enough to return after featuring in the current Championship match between Durham and Lancashire, while Rashid has been recalled to the squad to offer a second spin option. By contrast, Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah was named man of the match after claiming 10 wickets.

‘So, looking ahead, if we did happen to have two spinners, they could both play an important part for us’. I’m sure he is starting to feel the pressure.

Anderson has recovered from a stress fracture of his right shoulder and bowled 22 overs in the match taking three wickets for 58 runs. “That’s not 100 percent of the time. but I like to think that (Vince) will play more cricket for England”.

Speaking about Rashid’s possible inclusion, Bayliss said: ‘That’s definitely a possibility – getting the ball spinning the ball away from the bat might make it a little more hard, so I’m sure that will be discussed at the selection meeting’. “Most of the innings he’s played, I think he has looked very good while he has been there”, said Bayliss.