What to do when your spinners are not very good......

[Junaids]

Pakistan has been here before.

They were lucky from 1982-2000 that Abdul Qadir, and then Mushtaq Ahmed, and finally Saqlain Mushtaq were top quality spinners.

But there then followed a long lull in which Danish Kaneria was just a Minnow-Basher, Saeed Ajmal was a chucker and even Yasir Shah was an Asian Track Bully whose record in SENA was horrific.

And look where things are now! Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali are in the Moeen Khan / Jack Leach class. They may occasionally win a match on a last day Asian pitch which has broken up, but they are very mediocre indeed. Meanwhile Yasir Shah has only been a shadow of his former self for several years, and was a serial failure outside Asia even at his peak.

But what is the point of picking mediocre spinners in your team?

Pakistan's key weapons are Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah - we have known for nearly 3 years that that would be the case until at least the year 2030.

But why back them up with dodgy specialist spinners who can bat a little bat?

I'd much prefer to pick both Shadab Khan and Zafar Gohar in Asia - and just one of them overseas - and lengthen the batting, shorten the tail, and improve the fielding.

This Third Test could see Pakistan 180-4 at Tea on Day 5, chasing an impossible 360 to win, but needing to bat out the final session with a new ball due after an hour and only the following batting left to come:

7. Nauman Ali
8. Sajid Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Naseem Shah
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Imagine if that tail was instead:

7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Zafar Gohar
10. Naseem Shah
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi.

And worryingly, I don't think the spin bowling would actually be weakened by that switch.

If your specialist spinners aren't good enough, don't pick them. Pick spin bowling all-rounders instead.

After Graeme Swann, England had no spinner in the same class available. So they picked Moeen Ali instead.

But compare their actual output:

Batting:
Swann 1370 runs in 60 Tests at 22.09
Moeen 2914 runs in 64 Tests at 28.29

Bowling:
Swann 255 wickets at 29.96
Moeen 195 wickets at 36.66

Would I prefer to have Graeme Swann ahead of Moeen Ali? Of course I would.

But when no specialist of that quality is available - like for Pakistan today - then by all means pick the all-rounder who is decent at batting, bowling and fielding.

I don't think India would have won the Final Test - and series - in Australia last year had they played R Ashwin instead of Washington Sundar.

But Sundar contributed:
3-89
62 (coming in at 161-5, in reply to 369 all out).
1-80
22 (coming in at 265-5, against the second new ball, chasing 328 to win).

....and that allowed the Test to be won.

Pakistan doesn't have a top class spinner. So they should pick a Washington Sundar or two instead.

 

[Gilly]

Pakistan's key weapons are Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah - we have known for nearly 3 years that that would be the case until at least the year 2030.

When you look at the averages of these two bowlers perform against the top teams.

Shaheen
v AUS 35
v ENG 52
v NZ 43

Naseem
v AUS 39
v ENG 69
v NZ 73

 

[Junaids]

When you look at the averages of these two bowlers perform against the top teams.

Shaheen
v AUS 35
v ENG 52
v NZ 43

Naseem
v AUS 39
v ENG 69
v NZ 73

To be fair to those bowlers, they were absurdly young in all of the series that you have listed.

Shaheen was aged 18-21 and Naseem was probably about the same.

The two Shahs are outrageously good for their tender ages.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Better off trying out Gohar, Nawaz and Shadab than using guys like Sajid or even Nauman who are not just very short-term picks but apparently also not very good.

Zafar Gohar was debuted in arguably the toughest player for a spinner to debut in these days and then dropped and forgotten completely. As if his performances in the QeA (in Pakistan) that led him to getting selected did not matter at all.

Any way, all three of these guys can bat and two of them (Nawaz and Gohar) have done very well in FC in the last 3 years. Even if there's room for improvement you will have time on your hands to do that.

 

[Gilly]

To be fair to those bowlers, they were absurdly young in all of the series that you have listed.

Shaheen was aged 18-21 and Naseem was probably about the same.

The two Shahs are outrageously good for their tender ages.

How are they "outrageously good" with those numbers?

 

[Junaids]

When you look at the averages of these two bowlers perform against the top teams.

Shaheen
v AUS 35
v ENG 52
v NZ 43

Naseem
v AUS 39
v ENG 69
v NZ 73

For the record:

England are 9th out of 9 in the World Test Championship Table.
(Won 1 , Drawn 4, Lost 6)

New Zealand are 6th out of 9 in the World Test Championship Table.
(Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 3, including a home loss to Bangladesh).

Australia is currently top, with Pakistan second and South Africa third.

India is currently fourth.

 

[Gilly]

For the record:

England are 9th out of 9 in the World Test Championship Table.
(Won 1 , Drawn 4, Lost 6)

New Zealand are 6th out of 9 in the World Test Championship Table.
(Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 3, including a home loss to Bangladesh).

Australia is currently top, with Pakistan second and South Africa third.

India is currently fourth.

In the rankings.

Aus
Ind
NZ
Eng

Nice try though and it will fool the noobs.

 

[Junaids]

In the rankings.

Aus
Ind
NZ
Eng

Nice try though and it will fool the noobs.

Your rankings are historic rankings, which became obsolete when the World Test Championship started.

The World Test Championship table is the only measure which counts now, and my team is rock bottom!

 

[Gilly]

Your rankings are historic rankings, which became obsolete when the World Test Championship started.

The World Test Championship table is the only measure which counts now, and my team is rock bottom!

Like I said it will fool the noobs.

 

[Junaids]

Like I said it will fool the noobs.

You do realise that I am sticking with the World Test Championship table, in which your team is top and my team is bottom?

And we are even arguing about that?

 

[Gilly]

You do realise that I am sticking with the World Test Championship table, in which your team is top and my team is bottom?

And we are even arguing about that?

Its just funny how you cant grasp the difference between rankings and WTC ladder. I did expect some who do not follow cricket that much to be confused about it. I guess we learn new things everyday.

 

[Ab Fan]

For overseas tests, go with Shadab Khan and 4 pacers. Having a left arm pacer like Shaheen is always a privilege overseas.

In subcontinent, you will need one highly skillful spinner who can run through sides consistently in Ashwin mould and then Shadab can play the second role. One of the biggest reason India dominate at home is Ashwin, there is no replacement of him in that side in subcontinent conditions. Pakistan need to figure out their Ashwin, who will be a beast in subcontinent. Overseas, they can do without that.

 

[Junaids]

Its just funny how you cant grasp the difference between rankings and WTC ladder. I did expect some who do not follow cricket that much to be confused about it. I guess we learn new things everyday.

I guess I am influenced primarily by the football (soccer) World Cup.

The current FIFA rankings, 8 months prior to the World Cup, read:

1. Belgium
2. Brazil
3. France
4. Argentina
5. England
6. Italy
7. Spain
8. Portugal
9. Denmark
10. Netherlands

Those rankings are based on the last few years, but:

1. Belgium and Brazil are no more likely to reach the World Cup Final than Canada or Uruguay (no, that was not a misprint).

2. Italy is not even going to qualify.

3. Belgium and Italy have ageing teams which are in decline.

4. Germany (number 11) are going to do much better than most of the teams above them.

That's the danger with using historical rankings at any given point. I can tell you off the top of my head that the teams which are at the highest level are France and England, with Germany close behind.

And the teams which are improving the fastest, and might just peak in time for this November, are Spain, Canada and Uruguay.

 

[Villager6964]

For overseas tests, go with Shadab Khan and 4 pacers. Having a left arm pacer like Shaheen is always a privilege overseas.

In subcontinent, you will need one highly skillful spinner who can run through sides consistently in Ashwin mould and then Shadab can play the second role. One of the biggest reason India dominate at home is Ashwin, there is no replacement of him in that side in subcontinent conditions. Pakistan need to figure out their Ashwin, who will be a beast in subcontinent. Overseas, they can do without that.

LOL in India anyone can roll their arm and can get a fifer.

 

[daytrader]

Man so tired of these age discrimination threads disguised as anything else

 

[daytrader]

LOL in India anyone can roll their arm and can get a fifer.

Bang on. Nauman would be no less than Ashwin if he was given dust bowls

 

[Gilly]

I guess I am influenced primarily by the football (soccer) World Cup.

The current FIFA rankings, 8 months prior to the World Cup, read:

1. Belgium
2. Brazil
3. France
4. Argentina
5. England
6. Italy
7. Spain
8. Portugal
9. Denmark
10. Netherlands

Those rankings are based on the last few years, but:

1. Belgium and Brazil are no more likely to reach the World Cup Final than Canada or Uruguay (no, that was not a misprint).

2. Italy is not even going to qualify.

3. Belgium and Italy have ageing teams which are in decline.

4. Germany (number 11) are going to do much better than most of the teams above them.

That's the danger with using historical rankings at any given point. I can tell you off the top of my head that the teams which are at the highest level are France and England, with Germany close behind.

And the teams which are improving the fastest, and might just peak in time for this November, are Spain, Canada and Uruguay.

So if thats the case then Shaheen and Naseem figures are really bad against the bottom teams, not a good argument for claiming them to be outrageously good bowlers then.

Which ever way you try to spin it they have bad numbers against the top or bottom teams.

 

[wrongun]

Been saying for a while I am mystified why Shadab is not getting exposure in the longer formats- unless he himself has said he doesn't want to play them.

Wrist spin can be an x factor and left hand even more so. I've seen he has some talent as a bowler, he's young enough to invest in and raises standards in the field + is good enough to bat at #7 or be a really good #8.

You can pick a finger spinner for containment/crumbling pitches and Shadab to mop up tails & see where his ceiling in Test bowling is.

 

[Mesozoic]

LOL in India anyone can roll their arm and can get a fifer.

Bang on. Nauman would be no less than Ashwin if he was given dust bowls

Test averages of some of the spinners in India -

Nathan Lyon - 31
Rashid Khan - 32
Adil Rashid - 37
Dom Bess - 40
Moeen Ali - 49
Mitchell Santner - 52
L Embuldeniya - 46
Dilruwan Perera - 58
Devendra Bishoo - 78
Keshav Maharaj - 85
Dane Piedt - 80
Roston Chase - 48
Taijul Islam - 96
Mehidy Hasan - 107

So clearly, not everyone can just roll their arms, pick fifers and be as good as Ashwin on Indian wickets. Nauman Ali too would probably average around 50-60 if not more.

 

[Arsal_AK]

Test averages of some of the spinners in India -

Nathan Lyon - 31
Rashid Khan - 32
Adil Rashid - 37
Dom Bess - 40
Moeen Ali - 49
Mitchell Santner - 52
L Embuldeniya - 46
Dilruwan Perera - 58
Devendra Bishoo - 78
Keshav Maharaj - 85
Dane Piedt - 80
Roston Chase - 48
Taijul Islam - 96
Mehidy Hasan - 107

So clearly, not everyone can just roll their arms, pick fifers and be as good as Ashwin on Indian wickets. Nauman Ali too would probably average around 50-60 if not more.

Yeah, Ashwin would have a handful here in Lahore and in Karachi too. We have no one of that quality at the moment. Nauman and Sajid have been toothless.

Yasir a few years back would have been so much better than all four spinners playing the series as well. He still might well have been, that's been the standard of spin.

 

[Arsal_AK]

There is absolutely no need to play Faheem, Hassan should be playing. He is averaging 22 and has phenomenal since his return bar the two innings (and it's clear he isn't a hundred percent).

I agree with the rest of the post. Shadab is not going to do worse than either Nauman or Sajid bowling wise. Infact, he will challenge both edges and will get more spin from these wickets as well in my opinion. He has actually been decent with both bat and ball in SA and Eng, given the 3-4 tests he has played.

Then his batting in on another level compared to any all-rounders we have be it pace or spin. This years PSL alone is enough to show you why, he has come leaps and bounds from when he started. It should be a no brainer to play him.

The main spinner slot is a bit harder. Zafar 3-4 years would have walked into the team. He used to be so good but he is not the same bowler anymore. But then again, he is not going to do worse than what we have right now. This coming county season is going to be huge for him. If he can perform there and get back to his old self, he will make a strong case for a test return.

Shadab, Zafar, Hassan, Shaheen, Naseem is a really good attack in Pakistan. Three seamers are a must in Pakistan as is evident form the current test in Lahore. Had Hassan been near his best, Australia would have made even less.

 

[Sir-fraz]

If your pakistan you keep playing them...

 

[therealAB]

Qadir - great spinner (48 away from home)
Shah - HTB

Not sure if serious

 

[Buffet]

Its just funny how you cant grasp the difference between rankings and WTC ladder. I did expect some who do not follow cricket that much to be confused about it. I guess we learn new things everyday.

Some fans may follow cricket for decades and still be clueless. It's all right. Not everyone has to understand cricket to enjoy it.

 

[Buffet]

Aus batting has looked extremely comfortable in this series so far. I would have liked to see turning tracks to test Aus. Yes, Lyon will come into play, but he is not Murali.

 

[Gilly]

Aus batting has looked extremely comfortable in this series so far. I would have liked to see turning tracks to test Aus. Yes, Lyon will come into play, but he is not Murali.

A bit of respect for Lyon, he has already been in play. A couple of good breakthroughs and some good tight bowling giving the quicks some excellent support.

Lyon has bowled 182 overs @ 2.5 econ which is the best of any bowler in this series, you underestimate the value he brings to the bowling unit.

 

[Buffet]

A bit of respect for Lyon, he has already been in play. A couple of good breakthroughs and some good tight bowling giving the quicks some excellent support.

Lyon has bowled 182 overs @ 2.5 econ which is the best of any bowler in this series, you underestimate the value he brings to the bowling unit.

Come into play was meant as running through sides on turning tracks. Pakistan's problem has been picking wickets here. Aus has looked very comfortable in every outing so far. Pakistani spinners may have been more effective on turning tracks. Even if Lyon would have outbowled them, Pakistan could have picked 20 wickets and the game would have been more interesting. Aus should be always tested on turning tracks when playing in Asia. Aus can still win, but it will be a good game of cricket where Aus batsmen have to play spin.

 

[Barragan]

Let's see what the spinners do tomorrow.

They've not had the chance to bowl on a roughed up pitch, so tomorrow is their chance.

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to have a structure where players play more A tours and longer version of the game. Unless you play more first-class you cannot develop Test Cricketers. Its an illusion that you will get Test players from PSL .

 

[Unleashed]

Are Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali really the best Pakistani spinners available?

As an Indian, it just blows my mind that how average both of these spinners are, even if you take into account the nature of pitch but the fact is that they've hardly troubled the batsman.

If Shadab is fit, then surely he could've played instead of one of them. I refuse to believe that he's worse than both.

 

[Xoib]

Worst spinners to play for Pakistan its mind boggling they make zulfiqar babar and arshaf khan look herath and murali

 

[Mamoon]

I would love to see Pakistan and India play a Test series now. Sajid and Nauman vs Ashwin and Jadeja.

Box office stuff.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

These pitches have nothing for them. Cant judge them here when even Lyon has done Jack all.

 

[Xoib]

Atkeast lyon dries up an end and look threatening these uncles go for 3-4 rpo merrily

 

[ssuhaide]

Better to play no spinner then the two uncles.

 

[IAJ]

I would love to see Pakistan and India play a Test series now. Sajid and Nauman vs Ashwin and Jadeja.

Box office stuff.

Lol Why do you bring India in every thread? When will you stop attacking people's nafs to feel better yourself?

 

[Ashmal]

These pitches have nothing for them. Cant judge them here when even Lyon has done Jack all.

Its not just about pitches....they have been unable to land the ball on same spot consistently and struggled to even dry up the runs.

Too many freebies releasing whatever pressure the pacers had built.

 

[daytrader]

Atkeast lyon dries up an end and look threatening these uncles go for 3-4 rpo merrily

That's because he has Australian fielding backing him. They can make any bowler look good

 

[Major]

Its soo fun reading posts by posters who dont follow pakistan cricket yet want to write long essays as if they are the biggest experts.

Let me make it simple:

1. Shadab is not an accurate bowler.
2. Shadab has no fc experience
3. Shadab has fitness issues. In the psl he was bowling 4 overs and his injuries were coming back. Bowl shadab 20+ overs in one innings, he will end being on a stretcher.

The guy is injury prone. It takes him months to rehab the injuries and suring that time we have to see his bad bowling and bare it under the excuse of injury, he than performs in only a few matchs only to get injured again.

Shadab needs to prove his body can adjust to test crixket by playing a full season of first class. But knowing the guy, as soon as someone will throw him a franchise t20 bone, he would be out of Pakistan on the next plane .....

He himself isn't willing to prove that he is a longer format player than why force him in.

 

[shamaan]

Its soo fun reading posts by posters who dont follow pakistan cricket yet want to write long essays as if they are the biggest experts.

Let me make it simple:

1. Shadab is not an accurate bowler.
2. Shadab has no fc experience
3. Shadab has fitness issues. In the psl he was bowling 4 overs and his injuries were coming back. Bowl shadab 20+ overs in one innings, he will end being on a stretcher.

The guy is injury prone. It takes him months to rehab the injuries and suring that time we have to see his bad bowling and bare it under the excuse of injury, he than performs in only a few matchs only to get injured again.

Shadab needs to prove his body can adjust to test crixket by playing a full season of first class. But knowing the guy, as soon as someone will throw him a franchise t20 bone, he would be out of Pakistan on the next plane .....

He himself isn't willing to prove that he is a longer format player than why force him in.

I totally agree shadab needs a whole season of domestic playing all the games unless it's SENA conditions he can play as the only spinner in only a 5 man attack.

 

[Sherlock]

Inclusion of the 2 spinners proved to be costly for Pakistan.

Firstly congratulations to the Aussies. They played the better cricket for the majority of the series and actually tried to win and not play the defensive cricket their counterparts did.

But back to the main issue of the 2 spinners here -
More-so the inclusion of the ineffective and frankly, average bowler, Sajid Khan, and to a lesser extend Nauman.

You can blame the captaincy all you want, and Babar has been rightly criticised but one cannot expect to bowl oppositions out with a below average spinner.

Whose decision was it to include both Sajid and Nauman? And why continue with their awful bowling in all 3 Tests?

I get why Nauman was included but he too is a defensive ploy and not a wicket-taking one.

Overall the pacers did as well as they could but were never backed up by their spinners. Both of whom going around the park throughout the series and not initiating or clawing back control.

My issues have always been not have an up-coming spinner to take over Yasir Shah as he too will need to be moved on in Tests.

Hence why all our replacement spinners have been over 30-years-old+, or are simply not good enough for the longer format because they haven't been looked at thoroughly.

 

[IMMY69]

One has to be respectful BUT we would have been better of bowling Azhar Ali and Babar Azam then Sajid and Nauman.

Both were really bad and thoroughly outplayed by their counterparts.

 

[shah_1]

Minnow level spinners

 

[da_don]

zahid should have gotten a go.. they persisted with nauman and sajid in all 3 games and both proved they were club level failures

 

[Savak]

zahid should have gotten a go.. they persisted with nauman and sajid in all 3 games and both proved they were club level failures

The team management probably played Nauman and Sajid because of their perceived ability with the bat, extremely defensive safety first thinking.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

The team management probably played Nauman and Sajid because of their perceived ability with the bat, extremely defensive safety first thinking.

Zahid also can bat.. upto the same level of nauman and sajid..

Having said that , he is not the young leggie that need chances.....


But the PPT selector is obsessed with 34y old spinner some how

 

[Romali_rotti]

Why just blame the spinners ? bowlers like SHaheen Shah Afridi are just as mediocre... Surely Pakistan can find better pacers than what was fielded vs Aus... Shah seems to have great potential though.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

PPT selector is on a roll for 30+ oldie spinners

Nauman
Sajid
Zahid Mehmood
Asif Afridi now
He also selected Bilal asif for the last tour..


Where are those young spinners

Asghar
Gohar
Abraar Ahmed ( who played for PZ)
Umer Khan


Shadab Khan, Nawaz, Usman Qadir are not playing any FC cricket which is appalling..

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Why just blame the spinners ? bowlers like SHaheen Shah Afridi are just as mediocre... Surely Pakistan can find better pacers than what was fielded vs Aus... Shah seems to have great potential though.

They have Sameen Gul , who is a tall young right arm fast bowler avg 21.77 in FC cricket..

Below is his FC bowling stats



he is not even in reserves, they have selected Haris Rauf on the back of T20Is , he is struggling to bowl 10 overs in ODIs without getting spanked all over the park..

Pakistan think tank are full of genius ppl , always thinks out of the box which serves zero results..

 

[Romali_rotti]

..

Pakistan think tank are full of genius ppl , always thinks out of the box which serves zero results..

) Oh that was hilarious.....

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I would love to see Pakistan and India play a Test series now. Sajid and Nauman vs Ashwin and Jadeja.

Box office stuff.

funfilled series..

Sajid and Nauman against Pant would be a treat to watch

 

[Sherlock]

Why just blame the spinners ? bowlers like SHaheen Shah Afridi are just as mediocre... Surely Pakistan can find better pacers than what was fielded vs Aus... Shah seems to have great potential though.

I've heard it all now.

Sheez

 

[Kianig89]

Well Pakistan are outplayed in every department spin seam batting coaching Aus won fair and square scoreline is quite deceiving

 

[sweep_shot]

Replace the spinners. They are ineffective and do not look threatening at all.

Bring back Yasir Shah or get new spinners.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] was right.

We were never chasing 350 on 5th day.

He is usually spot on with match assessments.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan need to replace Nauman,Sajid and Hassan Ali
With Zahid Mahmood,Nawaz,Dahani,Sameen Gull,Irfanullah

 

[RyanRyan10]

Why are Pakistan spinners so good in the limited formats?

While other teams have 1-2 good white ball spinners, Pakistan on the other hand has a factory.

They take wickets and also contain runs. No other team might have such spinners who bowl economical spells on a consistent basis. What can other teams learn from Pakistan spinners for the limited formats?

 

[jnaveen1980]

In LOIs especially ODIs Bangladesh spin attack is one of the most potent.

 

[BreadPakoda]

On the other hand, India’s spin attack is one of the worst / most inconsistent and has been like that for the last 3-4 years or so. Cannot contain runs at all and get wickets only when the batsmen are slogging.

 

[The_KING]

If only our spinners were good in tests too.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan has the best 2 spinners in the world.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Pakistan has been here before.

They were lucky from 1982-2000 that Abdul Qadir, and then Mushtaq Ahmed, and finally Saqlain Mushtaq were top quality spinners.

But there then followed a long lull in which Danish Kaneria was just a Minnow-Basher, Saeed Ajmal was a chucker and even Yasir Shah was an Asian Track Bully whose record in SENA was horrific.

And look where things are now! Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali are in the Moeen Khan / Jack Leach class. They may occasionally win a match on a last day Asian pitch which has broken up, but they are very mediocre indeed. Meanwhile Yasir Shah has only been a shadow of his former self for several years, and was a serial failure outside Asia even at his peak.

But what is the point of picking mediocre spinners in your team?

Pakistan's key weapons are Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah - we have known for nearly 3 years that that would be the case until at least the year 2030.

But why back them up with dodgy specialist spinners who can bat a little bat?

I'd much prefer to pick both Shadab Khan and Zafar Gohar in Asia - and just one of them overseas - and lengthen the batting, shorten the tail, and improve the fielding.

This Third Test could see Pakistan 180-4 at Tea on Day 5, chasing an impossible 360 to win, but needing to bat out the final session with a new ball due after an hour and only the following batting left to come:

7. Nauman Ali
8. Sajid Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Naseem Shah
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Imagine if that tail was instead:

7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Zafar Gohar
10. Naseem Shah
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi.

And worryingly, I don't think the spin bowling would actually be weakened by that switch.

If your specialist spinners aren't good enough, don't pick them. Pick spin bowling all-rounders instead.

After Graeme Swann, England had no spinner in the same class available. So they picked Moeen Ali instead.

But compare their actual output:

Batting:
Swann 1370 runs in 60 Tests at 22.09
Moeen 2914 runs in 64 Tests at 28.29

Bowling:
Swann 255 wickets at 29.96
Moeen 195 wickets at 36.66

Would I prefer to have Graeme Swann ahead of Moeen Ali? Of course I would.

But when no specialist of that quality is available - like for Pakistan today - then by all means pick the all-rounder who is decent at batting, bowling and fielding.

I don't think India would have won the Final Test - and series - in Australia last year had they played R Ashwin instead of Washington Sundar.

But Sundar contributed:
3-89
62 (coming in at 161-5, in reply to 369 all out).
1-80
22 (coming in at 265-5, against the second new ball, chasing 328 to win).

....and that allowed the Test to be won.

Pakistan doesn't have a top class spinner. So they should pick a Washington Sundar or two instead.

I agree with much of your post, However we should keep looking for a specialist Spinner. You never know when the next big thing might appear.

Regarding Washington Sundar. it was just a case of playing an unknown player, Australians just didn't know, what his weaknesses & strengths were hence he ended up causing a lot of damage. Washington was replacement player, not part of the original attack.
SENA nations all do their home work & depend on it. Look how much trouble Abrar Ahmed caused in his first test and then gradually became more playable.

What happened in matter of few days? they learned what he was doing & worked him out. Suddenly the trump card became a regular bowler.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

However there are bowlers like Abdul Qadir, Saqlain, Shane Warne etc that are very hard to work out. And they are considered greats.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Hire spinners from another country by giving them nationality. As South Africa and England do.