Veteran England off-spinner Gareth Batty has been included in the national squad for their ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. Batty has represented the English side in 7 Tests so far and played his last match back in the year 2005 against the same opposition at Chester-le-Street.
The offie’s first stint as a Test cricketer was largely unsuccessful as he could manage just 11 wickets at a poor average of 66.63. He didn’t entirely disappear from the international scene though as he made ODI appearances every now and then until 2009 and also played a T20I in the same year.
Although he is currently 39, Gareth Batty has every chance of making his presence felt against the Bangladeshis in their own backyard. Here are 5 reasons why the off-spinner can make a difference in the ongoing series:
#1 Vast experience of picking wickets on unsupportive pitches
To say that Gareth Batty is an experienced campaigner would be an understatement as he has been part of the English county circuit for nearly 20 years now. Having started his career with his home county, Yorkshire, Batty went on to represent Worcestershire and currently plays for Surrey in England’s domestic cricket.
In 238 first-class matches, the offie has claimed 625 wickets at an average of just over 33 with 26 five-wicket hauls to his name. The fact that he has managed to perform like this on pitches which are not very conducive to spin bowling adds more value to Batty’s numbers.
If Gareth Batty can prove to be effective on tracks that are primarily unsupportive, there is no reason why he cannot succeed on spin-friendly pitches.
#2 Will to prove himself in a comeback after 11 years
It has been more than 11 years since Gareth Batty last donned the whites for England and his comeback is a reward for a consistent run in county cricket over the years. Now that Batty has finally got another opportunity, he is bound to come out all guns blazing in a bid to prove himself in the longest format of the game.
Also, his previous stint in the English Test team was nothing short of a debacle and therefore, the Surrey off-spinner will be looking to make amends. Since Gareth Batty is in his late 30s, he certainly does not have much time left in his hands so he knows that the ongoing series may be his last chance.
This will also inspire him to push hard and get some success under his belt in order to extend his run in the national team.
#3 Chance to lead the spin attack alongside Adil Rashid
Ever since Graeme Swann departed from the international cricketing scene in 2013, England have been struggling to find a suitable replacement who can head their spin attack. Presently, they have the services of leg-spinner Adil Rashid but he has only just started to find his footing in Test cricket.
Moeen Ali, too, has performed decently in recent times but his role in the team is primarily that of a batsman who can bowl off-spin. Considering this, Gareth Batty has a great chance of becoming the leader of the English spin attack alongside Rashid.
This added responsibility may bring the best out of Batty and lead to him making a big impact in the series.
#4 Favourable conditions for spin bowling
Just like in other Asian cricket-playing nations, the pitches in Bangladesh, too, are built to provide support to the spinners. Over the years, a number of opposition spinners have enjoyed great success in the country and this is something that Gareth Batty can capitalise upon to strengthen his position in the England team.
Batty is bound to witness the ball turn more than he may have ever seen while playing domestic cricket back home. If he can come to terms with the excessive spin that the pitch may offer and identify the right areas to bowl at, Gareth Batty can surely turn the heat on the host team’s batsmen and be a difference-maker for the Englishmen.
#5 Good form with the ball in recent times
The primary reason why England have opted for the services of Gareth Batty for their 2-match Test series against Bangladesh is his strong performance in the 2016 Specsavers County Championship Division One. Playing for Surrey, the off-spinner claimed 41 wickets in 16 matches and emerged as his team’s leading wicket-taker.
Batty’s confidence is bound to be high after his impressive showing and the icing on the cake has been his selection for the English Test team at the age of 39. These factors may culminate in a good performance with the ball by Gareth Batty in his comeback series and ensure that he makes an important contribution to a series win for his team.
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