England train with local spinners at Nerul

The tactic of depriving England from any kind of exposure to specialist spinners before the four-Test series begins from November 15, does not seem to have bothered the visitors too much

Though the Mumbai ‘A’ team’s think-tank did not play their lone specialist spinner Sagar Gorivale in the second warm-up match at the DY Patil Stadium yesterday, Alastair Cook & Co are quietly practising in the nets at Nerul with local specialist spinners.

Alastair Cook

The England skipper, who opted out of the second tie, faced spinners in the nets while his teammates fielded. Cook batted for nearly an hour.u00a0

It is learnt that at least seven England batsmen batted against spinners in the nets on Saturday. All-rounder Kevin Pietersen, who scored 23 in the first warm-up tie, had the longest stint — nearly three hours.

A spinner, who bowled to the Englishmen, said: “They look determined to overcome the spin barrier. They insisted on facing spin for most of the time.”u00a0

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