England in a spin over Ashes spinners
Two spinners or not two spinners, that is the question facing touring selectors as England attempts to revive its Ashes summer at what was once considered the world's quickest ground.
With a groundswell of support for left armer Monty Panesar to be included in the England side to take on Australia at Perth's WACA Ground this week, common opinion would place Ashley Giles in the firing line after a disappointing series with the ball and in the field.
But according to two former England greats, Alec Stewart and John Emburey, a twin spin attack of Giles and Panesar could be what England coach Duncan Fletcher turns to in a bid to stay alive in the series.
"I think Panesar will get a game, again because obviously we need 20 wickets to win a Test match and we haven't looked like taking 20 yet," Stewart said.
"But I wouldn't discount England playing two spinners. The two of them can work well in tandem, because they are different types of bowlers.
"I was only down there for a few hours yesterday at the WACA, but I saw a little bit of turn, and talking to some of the WA boys they have said this year it has spun."
With slow bowlers far and away the most successful for Western Australia at home this year, Emburey said going back could be the future for England.
He was part of the last English slow bowling partnership to wheel away at the WACA, teaming with Phil Edmonds in 1986 during the last victorious English tour to Australia.
Edmonds and Emburey bowled 119 overs for six wickets between them during that drawn match, and the 54 year-old said the threat of Panesar could help Giles out of his current malaise.
"Everyone says the nature of the pitch has changed, and if it has and it is much slower and helping spin there is no reason why we can't play both," Emburey said.
"We haven't got a huge amount of depth, but I think Ashley Giles is a good bowler, a very maligned bowler he gets a lot of criticism, but he does a good job.
"(Panesar) bowled very, very well at home on pitches that gave him a little bit of help, the Australian pitches won't give him as much help.
"But I think he has proved as a potential match winner - everyone is looking forward to him, and missing him. I think the Australians are missing him playing to a certain extent.
"Given the right conditions he could turn the game over here."
Having taken 3-262 in the two games so far, as well as dropping a crucial catch off Ricky Ponting in Adelaide, Giles has come under increasing pressure from Panesar, in popular opinion at least.
Revealing in his tour diary he had been the subject of abusive telephone calls to his hotel after the Adelaide defeat, Giles also admitted he was feeling the pressure from Panesar.
But Stewart for one was vociferous in his support for the job Giles performs.
"Giles has been out of ... all cricket for nearly twelve months. For some reason the media both here and at home are getting on his back a little bit," Stewart said.
"He has always produced very good results for England ... and he has still got a role to play.
"These are the players that played a big part eighteen months ago, and you don't become bad players overnight."
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