Pitching for Progress: McCullum’s Vision for Spinners’ Development

England head coach Brendon McCullum has praised spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for their impressive performance in India and suggests that clubs should provide pitches to aid the development of spinners across the country. Despite their success in India, there is concern that the pair may lack playing time upon returning to their counties potentially hindering their growth.

McCullum emphasizes the need for opportunities at the county level to ensure their progress. He also suggests that producing pitches favoring spin in domestic cricket could be beneficial. The coach and captain Ben Stokes express the desire for the spinners to get more chances. McCullum denies England’s selection policies are dismissive of county form, stating they focus on specific skills needed and aim to make decisions accordingly.

The emphasis is on finding players who fit the team’s style and environment acknowledging that not every decision will be perfect.