ECB looking at Lions tour to India to help England’s spinners

The lack of alternative options across county cricket that led to the SOS to the retired Moeen Ali for this Ashes has encouraged the England management to create opportunities for emerging spinners in other environments.

Frustrated by a lack of overs domestically, Mail Sport understands the ECB are seeking greater exposure next winter by organising an England Lions tour to India.

The proposed itinerary of three four-day Tests against India A would run concurrently with the full England Test next January-February.

Preliminary discussions have already taken place with the Indian board while other avenues being explored include placing individuals – restricted in their effectiveness in county cricket by the heavy scheduling of matches in seamer-friendly months – in Sri Lankan and Zimbabwean first-class competitions.

England Lions do not have any formal activity planned this summer but another idea being mulled over is inviting spinners on the England pathway for bespoke sessions at Loughborough.

ECB looking at Lions tour to India to help England’s spinners

The ECB are looking at an England Lions tour to India to help English spinner develop their games

Jack Leach, pictured here playing in the country, picked up an injury before the Ashes and left England with a spin crisis

Jack Leach, pictured here playing in the country, picked up an injury before the Ashes and left England with a spin crisis

Will Jacks was an option to replace Leach in the England side

Rehen Ahmed was also a possibility but was deemed not ready

Will Jacks (left) and Rehen Ahmed (right) were options to replace Leach but were deemed not ready

At the time of the back injury that ruled him out of the five Tests v Australia – Jack Leach was the only spinner in double figures in terms of County Championship wickets this season. A statistic that influenced the calls to Moeen about resuming his Test career.

The Hollies’ help

England’s players credit the raucous atmosphere at Edgbaston for influencing results and the Hollies Stand was certainly doing its bit to unsettle the Australians on Monday.

‘We saw you cry on the telly,’ they goaded Steve Smith, relating to his emotional breakdown when banned for his part in Australia’s sandpaper scandal.

And David Warner was met with ‘Broady’s gonna get you,’ in relation to the hex Stuart Broad has held over the left-hander in recent years.

McCullum dodges the team bus

Brendon McCullum’s liking for doing things his own way extends to travelling to the ground on Test match days.

Here in Birmingham, he has been seen walking to Edgbaston rather than hopping on the England team bus, and has had bowling coach David Saker for company.

They haven’t opted for the conventional route either, beginning their two-mile journeys on the canal towpaths that meander behind the back of the team hotel.

Brendon McCullum has opted against taking the team bus to the game during the opening Test match of the Ashes at Edgbaston

Brendon McCullum has opted against taking the team bus to the game during the opening Test match of the Ashes at Edgbaston

He has walked two-miles from the team hotel to the ground alongside bowling coach David Saker (left)

He has walked two-miles from the team hotel to the ground alongside bowling coach David Saker (left)

Golf for Brook

Harry Brook’s improvement as a ball striker has not been limited to cricket.

Nine months in the England team environment has also done wonders for his golf.

During that period, the Yorkshire batsman’s handicap has plunged from close to double figures to 2.6 – placing him on the coat tails of Zak Crawley, whose handicap of 1 makes him the best golfer in the squad.

Pope’s sleep struggles showing

Ollie Pope struggles to sleep during Test matches, a factor that undoubtedly contributes to the differential in his first and second innings returns.

The England vice-captain’s dismissal on Monday dipped his career average to 16.56 on second visits to the crease, compared to a first-innings mark of 47.91. Only one of his 15 50-plus scores has come in the second.

Pope, 25, does not enjoy Edgbaston, either – replicating that average of 16 in his six knocks for England here.

Ollie Pope's sleep struggled are appearing to cost him in his second innings of Test matches

Ollie Pope’s sleep struggled are appearing to cost him in his second innings of Test matches

The England vice-captain's dismissal on Monday means his second innings average is now 16.56 compared to a first innings average of 47.91

The England vice-captain’s dismissal on Monday means his second innings average is now 16.56 compared to a first innings average of 47.91

Sales soar for day five

Edgbaston will be a 25,000 sell-out for the fifth day in a row on Tuesday following a flurry of ticket purchases over the past 24 hours.

Pre-Test sales for day five tickets – priced at £25 – topped 14,000 and that mark had swelled beyond 20,000 by lunch on Monday.

The appetite for seats is replicated for the women’s Ashes – with Edgbaston boasting the best figures of a combined sell pushing 80,000.

Trent Bridge, venue for the five-day Test that opens the multi-format series on Thursday, has hit the 14,500-mark.

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