The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsSince the retirement of Graeme Swann during the 2011-12 Ashes series in Australia, England have not found a spinner that has been able to take wickets consistently for a long period of time.
The likes of Monty Panesar, Scott Northwick and Simon Kerrigan were all given a shot, but like the opening batsman position, no-one has made it their own.
In the last 18 months, Moeen Ali has been a decent number 8 for England, producing some good lower-order batting, followed by some good periods of spin bowling. However, he is obviously a batter first, bowler second. England are looking for a frontline spinner, and they may have found one in Adil Rashid. He took 5-64 in the second innings of his debut Test, after being thrashed for a wicketless 150+ in the first. A great comeback for the Yorkshireman, showing he has the guts to bounce back from such figures.
A good series in the UAE, along with the series in South Africa to come, Rashid could make that position his own in the next few months. If he does not cement his position in the England line-up, however, who can England turn to? Here a few options they have:
