'Adil Rashid can be a key man for England on day three'
Saturday 10 December 2016 12:08, UK
Sir Ian Botham believes England's spinners were punished for a lack of variation as India cut into the tourists' total of 400 on day two of the fourth Test in Mumbai.
Murali Vijay (70 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (47no) propelled the hosts to 146-1 by stumps - a deficit of 254 runs - after negating the threat of Adil Rashid (0-49) and Moeen Ali (1-44).
Ravichandran Ashwin (6-112) and Ravindra Jadeja (4-109) had shared the England wickets, with Botham particularly impressed by Ashwin's frequent changes of pace.
"The England spinners were played far too much off the back foot on both sides of the wicket," said the Sky Sports pundit.
"India were allowed to dab it, run it and use the pace on the ball - you have got to get the players coming to the ball more, that's how they got their wicket (when KL Rahul was bowled by Moeen through the gate).
"It's not all doom and gloom but I think England will be disappointed they didn't get their paces right.
"Ashwin, the pick of the spinners so far, used variations and changed his pace but England didn't do that enough."
Botham, however, feels England should look to Rashid for early wickets on day three, with the Yorkshireman posing opener Vijay a few problems throughout his knock.
"Rashid could have had Vijay's wicket three or four times," added the former England all-rounder.
"There was a stumping chance and a few balls skied into the air towards fielders at mid-on and mid-off.
"India see Rashid as a threat - that's why they have tried to knock him out of the attack - so I would persist with him in the morning."
Watch day three of the fourth Test between India and England, in Mumbai, from 3.45am on Saturday, Sky Sports 2.
