England consider spinners

By Oliver Brett

England's selectors will have to find at least one extra spinner as they ponder their squads for the Test and one-day series in Pakistan this winter.

England need to find back-up for Giles in the Subcontinent

With dry, dusty surfaces likely to be prepared, Ashley Giles will need back-up but - as usual - there are few contenders really pressing their case.

Gareth Batty is the regular understudy, and will probably be named in the one-day squad.

But for the Tests, the selectors may go somewhere else, because Batty is rarely a match-winner with the ball for his county Worcestershire.

Shaun Udal has had probably his best season ever at Hampshire, with 35 wickets costing just 18.14 apiece.

The only thing against picking him is his age. The selectors would be understandably reluctant to pick a 36-year-old.

But then again a certain person the same age as him has more than 600 Test wickets to his name - and is still out-bowling his peers.

Udal is also a decent batsman, on a par with Giles, so would be able to bat above the likes of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.

If you're looking for someone to be a specialist spin bowler then he's the guy for it Lancs coach Mike Watkinson on Gary Keedy

Jason Brown is a possible selection. He has a decent bag of 44 wickets this season in the County Championship, though there is one rider when considering him.

More than half those wickets will have come at Wantage Road, however, which can occasionally provide excellent conditions for spinners.

But on the other hand, if you want to find a wicket to resemble Lahore in November, then Wantage Road in August is pretty close to the mark.

Let's see a place for Panesar or Loudon and let's not go picking Udal or Keedy From Mr A Have your say on TMS

Lancashire's Gary Keedy, the most consistent slow bowler in the County Championship for the past three seasons, has been injured since the end of July.

His coach Mike Watkinson says the player will be fit "in a couple of weeks" - so after the season finishes.

"He had a ball driven back at him in the Twenty20 Cup final. He damaged a ligament in his hand and it hasn't really settled down since," says Watkinson.

"It means he's not had the opportunity to put in some big performances together at the back end of the season.

Udal and Keedy are two veterans who could step up

"But he took 72 wickets last year and 60 the season before.

"If you're looking for someone to bat at seven and field at first slip then he's not the man.

"But if you're looking for someone to be a specialist spin bowler then he's the guy for it."

Other areas of selection are less complicated.

Ian Bell, despite his poor run of form against Australia, will be retained and Robert Key is likely to be picked as the back-up batsman.

That leaves Middlesex pair Ed Joyce and Owais Shah scrambling for spots in the one-day squad at best.

The selection of James Anderson in the squad for The Oval provides a strong clue that he is in line for more Test action, leaving Jon Lewis primed for the one-day series instead.

Occasionally on tours of this nature, teams do not pick a reserve wicket-keeper.

But Geraint Jones has been in shaky form with the gloves so Chris Read will be more than just a passenger.

Meanwhile, Paul Collingwood, who will provide back-up to Andrew Flintoff in the Test picture, remains a vital part of the one-day squad.

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Possible Test squad: Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Bell, Key, Pietersen, Flintoff, Collingwood, G Jones, Read, Giles, Hoggard, Harmison, S Jones, Anderson, Udal.

Possible one-day squad: Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Shah, Solanki, Pietersen, Flintoff, Collingwood, G Jones, Read, Giles, Harmison, S Jones, Gough, Lewis, Batty.