Emburey backs two-spinner option

By Pranav Soneji

Ashley Giles and Monty Panesar have never played in the same England team

England should take a risk and play two spinners for the majority of the Ashes series, according to John Emburey.

England have been boosted by the return to fitness of Ashley Giles, who could bowl in tandem with fellow left-armer Monty Panesar in Australia.

"There is no reason why the spinners should not play if you feel they are going to be potential match-winning bowlers," Emburey told BBC Sport.

"If it is Giles and Panesar then they should both play."

Emburey, a member of the last England team to win the Ashes on Australian soil in 1986/87, dismissed suggestions that England should not play two left-arm spinners in the same team.

"We have gone on tour with three off-spinners in the past - if they are the two best spin bowlers in the country then they should play. I don't see it as a problem," said the Middlesex coach.

Sydney and Adelaide have traditionally been the two venues which favour the two-spinner option.

But reports in Australia have suggested that Perth, normally the fastest pitch in the country, has slowed considerably, further strengthening the argument to play both Giles and Panesar.

However Emburey warned the plan could backfire if the pitches do not turn in the first few days of a Test match.

Off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple impressed during his time in India

"You don't want to be in the situation where you play two spinners and the wicket only begins to break up on the last day," he said.

"If you lose the toss and the opposition bat first, all of a sudden you can't take advantage of the conditions with your two spinners because you will bat last on a breaking pitch."

Panesar, speaking at the announcement of npower's English cricket sponsorship extension, said: "It's the first time I'm going to be with Ashley Giles in a squad and it's really good for me to learn from his experience and how he prepares - just everything really.

"When I get out there, with the conditions and the different ball, I'll need to show the form I have this summer so I've still got quite a bit to do.

"You're not guaranteed a spot so I've got to try my best and leave the rest to the coach and the captain."

Emburey also strengthened Jamie Dalrymple's case for Test selection after the Middlesex all-rounder's impressive performances during England's indifferent ICC Champions Trophy campaign in India.

"He bowled with a lot of variation, he changed his pace very well on different pitches," he said.

"He is becoming a much more consistent bowler and allied to his batting and fielding skills, he is becoming a very dangerous one-day cricketer.

"He has the ability to bat five or six and he could certainly get you runs at eight if he was given the opportunity to play in a Test match."