Cricket: Ballance Turns To Root For Bangladesh Spin Tips

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Oct, 2016 ) : Batsman Gary Ballance said Thursday he had turned to teammate Joe Root for advice on how to counter an expected barrage of spin when England begin their Test series in Bangladesh next week.

Ballance was picked for the Bangladesh tour despite a disappointing recent home series against Pakistan when he averaged a modest 27.85 over the course of the four Tests and scored a solitary half-century.

The hosts are expected to test the Zimbabwe-born Ballance's technique on pitches that traditionally help the spinners. "There's going to be a lot of spin. I think we know that," Ballance told reporters in Chittagong which is to host the first Test from October 20.

"I've done a few weeks before we came out facing a lot of spin. I know my method now. "I've just got to put it into the games and if I can get a decent score early on, it gives you so much confidence for the rest of the trip." Ballance said he had taken tips from England's star batsman Root and Dave Houghton, the former Zimbabwe captain who is now the batting coach of the new English county champions Middlesex.

"Just watching the way he plays and just talking to him about it is good. He's one of the best around at playing spin," Ballance said of Root, who has been included in the Test squad after sitting out the just-concluded ODI series.