England test team of the last 40 years: the spinner

[bigfluffylemon]

I expect this one to be no contest, but I had to include a few less likely options to round out the poll. Note I didn't include Moeen Ali, despite a reasonable record as a spinner, as I consider him an allrounder.

[sussexpob]

Panesar was briefly very good, but its a barren pot with one exceptional case. Had Swann played longer, maybe his record wouldnt have been good - I think especially to right handed he was beginning to get found out a little by the end. And given a longer span, I'd have expected more left handers to have picked that straight arm variation ball, which was his only variation in the locker.

But sub 30 average, on English pitches.... cant fault his career.

I desperately wanted to pick someone else though, because his post career commentary has taken years of my life.

[bigfluffylemon]

If we discounted people for being dickheads in the commentary box post-career, we'd have little left to choose from. Especially on the Australian side - there were only two I could ever stand to listen to, and one of them just died (Ponting's the other).

[sussexpob]

If we discounted people for being dickheads in the commentary box post-career, we'd have little left to choose from. Especially on the Australian side - there were only two I could ever stand to listen to, and one of them just died (Ponting's the other).

I had a lot of time for BIll Lawry, personally.

His commentary in the Ashes when Mitchell debuted with him was actually offensive. He mansplained to her all series, and was also openly flirting with her all the time with his terrible jokes. It was very uncomfortable.

[bigfluffylemon]

If we discounted people for being dickheads in the commentary box post-career, we'd have little left to choose from. Especially on the Australian side - there were only two I could ever stand to listen to, and one of them just died (Ponting's the other).

I had a lot of time for BIll Lawry, personally.

His commentary in the Ashes when Mitchell debuted with him was actually offensive. He mansplained to her all series, and was also openly flirting with her all the time with his terrible jokes. It was very uncomfortable.

Who are you referring to?

I should qualify I could only stand to listen to Warne when he was talking about spin bowling and fielding tactics. But at least that's part of the time. I can't stand listening to the likes of Slater, Healy, Taylor etc. at all.

[sussexpob]

Swann.

The Aussie lads used to be ok, but then they formed their own group and had a sort of laddish, OTT dynamic. Taylor especially used to be decent, but nowadays he's trying to turn into Ian Healy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Underwood is the only person who challenges Swann in my time, and Swann was a fine catcher too whereas Derek had to be hidden in the long grass and was lucky to bat at 11.

Swanny probably a bit much in the dressing room though.

[Gingerfinch]

Swann by a distance.

[Durhamfootman]

easy

best English spinner I've seen. I'm not aware of him having prodigious turn, or having a huge number of variations with which to trick or deceive, but what he did have was brain. A thinking spin bowler, who knew his craft and who seemed to instinctively understand the match situation and use it to work out exactly how to set a batter up and get him to make a mistake. Joyous (even if he was a bit of a d1ck)

[alfie]

Simple one. Swann. No one else near.

Can bat too which aids my thin batting options among the pace men