Monty Panesar backs Moeen Ali over Dom Bess to start in Chennai Test

Monty Panesar, the former England spinner,  has stated that Moeen Ali should start ahead of Dom Bess as he has the higher chances of picking wickets than the Somerset spinner.

Dom Bess had a quality innings with the bat against Sri Lanka in the absence of Moeen Ali but his main job – bowling – was less than impressive apart from the last innings in Galle.

Bess failed to contain the flow of the game and thus allowed the momentum slip away, which was a danger sign for the side preparing for a series against India.

While Jack Leach is confirmed to play the first Test in Chennai, England will have to pick one between Moeen and Bess for the second spinner’s role.

England’s wrecker-in-chief in their historic 2012 triumph in India, Monty Panesar believes that Moeen has done well in India and has the required experience to do well this time too.

“Jack Leach is likely to play since India have a lot of right-handers and I will pick Moeen Ali over Dom Bess as the off-spinner in the eleven as he has done well in India and has the required experience. He can also bat,” Panesar told PTI.

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“Having not played in Sri Lanka, Ali is fresh and hungry. India would not like facing Ali, they would be happy facing Leach and Bess.”

Panesar wants spinners to add more flight on good length

Panesar’s success formula alongside Graeme Swann was well documented in the 2012 series. Speaking from experience, Panesar stated that spinners should look to add more flight to their deliveries as bowling flatter would be expensive in Indian conditions.

“They should be aiming to bowl good length but how it is getting there also matters. Bowling too flat will make things easy for the batter, so I would flight the ball. The margin of error also increases if you flight the ball at a good length.

“Give the ball some air and bring the batsman forward. You can bowl arm balls and cross seamers to mix things up but not too frequently especially when the ball is soft.”