England v India 2014: Simon Kerrigan included in England's squad for 2nd Test at Lord's

Simon Kerrigan in line for an England recall against India

England have included Lancashire left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan in their squad for the 2nd Test against India at Lord’s starting on Thursday. Kerrigan’s inclusion comes as no surprise, as he has been training with the rest of the England squad for the last few days. England’s bowling came under scrutiny during the 1st Test against India with the lack of a specialist spinner, with due respect to Moeen Ali, exposing the England seamers to a truckload of overs.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s two leading bowlers, bowled a total of 59 and 54 overs in the 1st Test respectively and were left exhausted by the end of the Test. With very little gap between the Test matches, it would be impossible for them to carry on giving their 100% throughout the summer. Kerrigan’s inclusion in the squad gives Alastair Cook the option of playing a full-time spinner, who can bowl a lot of overs and tie one end up, which apart from easing the workload of the seamers also lends better balance to the English attack.

The 25-year-old made his Test debut against Australia in the Ashes series last year. He had a horrendous debut, as he conceded 53 runs in 8 overs at an economy rate of 6.62 in the 1st innings and did not even get a bowl in the entire 2nd innings. Cook, who was his captain on that occasion, is confident, though, that the youngster has recovered from that difficult experience. Speaking of the decision to add Kerrigan to the squad for the Lord’s Test, the England captain said: "He's been good around us and bowled beautifully in the nets.

"We want have an option in case it's hot and dry at Lord's and might spin more. Simon is a tough lad - he went away with the Lions and did well. I have no doubt in his toughness and he will be a fine bowler for England."

Ali played as the main spinner in England’s 2-Test series against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer and was asked to do that role in the 1st Test against India as well. He scored a brilliant century against the Sri Lankans in the 2nd Test at Headingley, Leeds, displaying his ability with the bat, but as a spinner at the international level, he just does not seem up to it. He was fairly expensive in both innings of the 1st Test and although he did have 4 scalps to his name, it was more due to the arrogance of the Indian batsmen against spin bowling rather than a reflection of Moeen’s ability with the ball.