As soon as the season ends (not long now) I'll be creating the official WAT England 'A' team thread, but in the interim it seems sensible to try and get clearer on the candidates: to that end I'm creating threads on potential openers, potential middle order batsmen, potential wicket-keepers, potential seamers and potential spinners.

In all these discussions I'm going to presume Yardy, Joyce, Clarke, Dalrymple, Broad and Tremlett (and possibly Davies) will be automatic selections: that's not definitive as every place is up for debate.... but given that the above are early favourites I'd like to see arguments as to why any of these should NOT be included as well as arguments as to why others should play alongside / instead of them.

Anyway... this thread is for spinners. Argue for a specialist if you like (Doshi would appear the obvious choice)... but have your say on the merits of the occasional spinner options like Dalrymple and Yardy (both frontrunners for top 6 spots).

Note: if you haven't already registered an interest in being a co-selector then please vote in this poll." >potemtial openers, potential middle order batsmen and potential seamers.

Dalrymple's I don't feel is an automatic choice by any means - he is a good one day player as he has proved, but I think we have to look at other possible options.

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Ern

Adil Rashid of Yorkshire is being talked about a lot, Moneeb Iqbal is coming through at Durham but is probably too under-exposed at present. What about Lawson of Yorkshire too?

Adil Rashid a leggie I wish - but he has only played about 3 matches.

I "think" you mean Dawson of Yorkshire - if so he has been tried, but I am not myself keen on off break bowlers, they have to be special.

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Ern

No, Yorkshire have another leggie named Lawson. I know very well who Richard Dawson is.

And why the comment "Rashid a leggie, I wish"? He's being positively talked about in the media and on here amongst our members. Panesar hadn't played many games last season when he was selected and look where he is now!

Rashid has taken 14 wickets at < 20 from 3 games: not a bad start. Lawson has played 5 matches and taken 17 wickets at just over 30. Dawson has played 8 times and has completely bombed!

Well Yorkshire dropped Dawson weeks ago in favour of the leggies and they are doing quite well.Seeing as you need to play 5 games to gain consideration and Yorkshire have 2 left then Rashid is worth a mention if he plays in both.Bear in mind he would have played more but for international duty,isn't that the same reason we are using for Mahmood anyway?

We need a case building for his inclusion: if that is based on International duties as well as county championship performances that's fine by me. Folk will be fully within their rights to argue against Rashid on the basis that they don't find the evidence compelling.. but do bear in mind that Panesar got in last year depite Mike making exactly this case: the competition for a frontline, specialist spinner's role is not exactly strong so the case might be worth making.

I guess his chances depend on the balance of the team: a young leggie could be a huge risk unless the captain also has a stack of other options. That said... this year's side might welll include Clarke and ADlrymple in the top 6... so if the three specialist bowlers inspire confidence the scope might be greater than usual. Sadly, only Tremlett inspires me with great confidence: if we go with Broad and/or Tom Smith the risks are great... Mascarenhas doesn't convince everyone... and we've had evidence all summer that Mahmood's more likely to go awol / be hit out of the attack as he is to start bowlingentire overs without spraying the ball around.

Feel free to make the case!

Unless Mark Lawson has drastically improved recently he isnt good enough, bowls too flat and too many 4 balls (makes Stuart McGill look consistent). Rashid and Iqbal I havent seen. Doshi seems very consistent but doesnt seem to be very attacking or threatening. Yardy seems more of an occasional bowler whereas Dalrymple is more of a frontline spinner in the CC, certainly better than Peploe who keeps geting picked as a specialist. There arent many others that spring to mind, Marshall at Lancs isnt ready yet, Graeme Swann? (is he eligible), James Middlebrook? can bat, usually quite defensive and economical but hasnt got much of a return this year. Alex Loudon is the only other candidate but he seems to have fallen off the radar, and he was only really an occasional bowler to start with.

I guess Batty would be the other obvious candidate: excellent season with the bat, decent season with the ball. Has the experience to slot stright into the Test side and could be relied on to do a job.