England begin spin preparations for ‘good Test team’ Bangladesh

England have begun laying the groundwork for their two-match Test tour of Bangladesh in February next year, with national selector Marcus North stressing the need to build greater spin-bowling depth to cope with conditions in the subcontinent.

North believes the tour will test England’s current team balance, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stepping up its investment in spin bowling as part of a broader effort to strengthen the squad’s options.

The appointment of Richard Dawson as one of Stephen Fleming’s new assistant coaches, as well as England’s national spin-bowling lead, is another indication of the growing emphasis on developing spin re

They [Bangladesh] are a good cricket team now,

“They [Bangladesh] are a good cricket team now, a good Test team,” North said. “It’s not just going over there and facing good spinners; they’ve got some very good quicks, so we know that’s going to be a good test. But we need to have a squad that can give us all options in those conditions as well.

“As much as there’s been a project with fast bowling, you’ll see that there’s now a number of spin bowlers that have come into our system… that we can invest in,” he added. “Where we want to get is to have the depth that we can have some really good, robust discussions around the type of skillset that we’re looking for and the balance of the side.”

England’s preparations come at a time when their approach to spin bowling remains under scrutiny. They did not pick a specialist spinner in their first series since Ben Stokes’ international retirement, instead relying on the off-spin of Dan Lawrence and Joe Root in their 3-0 victory over Pakistan, with Shoaib Bashir carrying the drinks.

A similar team balance is expected for England’s

A similar team balance is expected for England’s next Test assignment in South Africa in December, leaving the Bangladesh tour as a potentially significant test of their selection strategy and spin-bowling depth.

The selectors also face a difficult decision over the batting line-up ahead of the South Africa series, with Jacob Bethell’s recovery from a knee injury potentially affecting the positions of Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence.

North, however, indicated that the decision remains open.

“It’s going to be a tough call and tough decision, and that’s exactly the place we want to be in,” he said.

Veteran left-arm spinner Jack Leach appears increasingly unlikely

Meanwhile, veteran left-arm spinner Jack Leach appears increasingly unlikely to return to the England Test set-up, despite continuing to impress for Somerset in the County Championship.

Leach, 35, last played a Test for England in Pakistan in late 2024 and has not been included in an England squad since. He has nevertheless remained one of the leading performers in Division One of the County Championship over the past two seasons, claiming 88 wickets at an average of 21.73 for Somerset.

His recent form could have strengthened his case for a return ahead of England’s Bangladesh tour, but North suggested that the selectors are looking towards a different group of spinners as they plan for the future.

England’s current focus includes centrally contracted spinners Shoaib

England’s current focus includes centrally contracted spinners Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed, alongside development-contract players Mason Crane, James Coles and Liam Patterson-White for the 2026-27 cycle.

“We’ve seen him at international level with England. He continues to do exceptionally well at Somerset,” North said on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, when asked about Leach’s prospects. “But as it stands now, those selections around the development contracts and the central contract list show that we’re focusing on a slightly different direction.”

While Leach’s international career may not yet be definitively over, the selectors’ current priorities suggest that a recall for the Bangladesh tour will be difficult to secure.

England are due to tour India

England are due to tour India for a five-Test series in early 2028, potentially offering another opportunity for Leach to return to contention. For now, however, the veteran spinner appears unlikely to add to his 142 Test wickets as England concentrate on developing their next generation of spin bowlers.

With Bangladesh expected to offer a demanding examination of both spin and pace, England’s challenge will be to assemble a squad capable of adapting to varied conditions while maintaining the right balance between batting depth and bowling options.