Interested to know how his economy rate was. That was a big part of Mo's game that always frustrated, could not tie down an end to save his life.
Leach's test economy rate is 3.01 vs Mooen's 3.61. In first class games that is 2.7 -> 3.53.
Leach's test strike rate is 59.7 vs Moeen's 60.7. In first class games that is 58.7 -> 64.3.
He takes wickets faster and concedes fewer runs. Granted Leach has probably on average played on more spinner friendly wickets than Mooen who has played a much higher proportion of his tests at home and clearly a higher proportion of his FC games not at Taunton.
As for the comment that at 30 Leach is too old to be trusted and we should focus on someone younger.. Herath played 14 tests before the age of 30 and ended up with 433 test wickets (398 over the age of 30).
I am not saying Leach is a world beater, but he is currently the most experienced test spinner and best FC spinner we have, has never disgraced himself and deserves a chance to develop with a settled role in the side. Maybe in time we will be able to afford to pick Crane or Parkinson as a luxury pick and allow them to prove themselves, but with no stokes adding seam bowling depth to the middle order we need someone who can hold up an end and pick up wickets when the conditions suit - Leach deserves that chance IMO.
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Topic: Moeen retires from test cricket. (Read 8447 times)