On match eve at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia’s assistant coach and decorated former spin bowler Daniel Vettori shrugged his shoulders, in a gesture of defeat for his art.

It was becoming increasingly clear that the hosts were going to snub the off-breaks of Todd Murphy for the second Ashes Test in succession, and the fourth time in their past six matches.

Harry Brook (left) and Joe Root combined for long-overdue runs in the middle order.Credit: AP

And while it was not unheard of for teams to go all-pace in Brisbane or Melbourne now and then, the decision to leave out spin at the SCG of all places should be the cause for major introspection across the nation.

Cricket in Australia has not always been about pace. This country has been, for decades, a place that nurtured spin bowlers. Not only for their value in countries like India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, but for their ability to be game changers and entertainers here.

No less a figure than Sir Donald Bradman once described the best kind of cricket as follows: “The epitome of great cricket is a top batsman batting against a third finger leg spinner. That’s the best cricket you could possibly see.”

In the years before Shane Warne emerged, Bradman bemoaned the monotony of constant pace bowling: the leggie’s spin renaissance was a highlight of the........

© Brisbane Times