Tamim Iqbal tucks in and gives spinners and Alastair Cook food for thought

The innings of the Bangladesh opener will have cheered India, who will surely be unfazed by the underwhelming performance of England’s spinners

Watching Tamim Iqbal tuck into England’s spinners in the morning session, it was difficult not to fear for them in India. India have not lost a home Test since losing to England in 2013, winning every match bar one – and that was a washout. In Chittagong, the ball turned from the first over but in Dhaka, the pitch offered only intermittent help so Alastair Cook needed his spinners to give him control – and they could not. Though they improved in the afternoon session, the feeling persists that Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and chums will not afford them that opportunity, unlikely to be fazed by whichever of Adil Rashid, Gareth Batty and Zafar Ansari England select. So perhaps they might find variety by way of four seamers, relying on Moeen Ali and Joe Root for spin – at least they are already in the team as batsmen. Batsmen who have to face Ravichandran Ashwin in helpful conditions. DH

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