Dalrymple hoping to turn it on

Jamie Dalrymple: 'You need to vary your pace a little bit but I'll be mainly looking to turn it as fast as I can' © Getty Images

On his previous two trips to India, Jamie Dalrymple was one of the lesser known talents, gaining some exposure with the World Cricket Academy in Mumbai. Having taken to spin only at the age of 16, Dalrymple got an opportunity to learn a few valuable lessons in offspin while being confronted with the heat and dust.

This time, though, he carries the baggage of expectation, hoping that his bits-and-pieces contributions provide England with the necessary impetus to advance in the Champions Trophy. His allround efforts in the recent series against Pakistan - when he chipped in with vital runs and economical spells - helped England overcome a horror run in one-dayers but it will be the flat tracks in India that will provide him with the sternest tests.

Fortunately, he already has a fair idea of what to expect from the pitches. "Generally they appear to turn a little bit more," he said after England's practice session at the Rajasthan Cricket Academy in Jaipur four days ahead of their opening game of the tournament, "but they tend to turn slowly. You need to vary your pace a little bit but I'll be mainly looking to turn it as fast as I can. After all, quick turn is a spinners' main weapon. Initially, I'll be trying to asses the tracks and see how it's going. We're going to have to see how much the wickets last and if they take turn later on."

Guiding Dalrymple through this initiation phase was someone who last bore the torch for English offspin, John Emburey. Though he managed 147 wickets in 64 Tests, Emburey might not be associated as much with his ability to extract bounce and drift, as much as with his control and defensive qualities.

Dalrymple is fortunate for the guidance, adding that he's able to appreciate his inputs much more these days. "I've been lucky to have someone like John guiding me at Middlesex," he gushes. "I've had to develop my game to get the most out of him - he always had great control and I had to develop that. Now I'm starting to benefit from all of his experience."

Unlike other England spinners of the past, Dalrymple doesn't only have seamers to partner him at the other end. In a surprising turn of events, England were actually able to bowl two spinners in tandem during the recent Pakistan series with Michael Yardy's left-arm spin complementing Dalrymple's offbreaks. "It's been great," beams Dalrymple, "Yards is firstly a mate and I'm happy for him. It's also nice to have a spinner at the other end. You get through overs quickly and there's a bit of comradeship in the spin union."

It's almost time for Dalrymple to join his team-mates in the warm-down exercises, that also involve an ice-pack to combat the intense Jaipur heat. Just before going, though, he's asked whether he prefers to have a bat more than slogging it out with the ball. "Depends on the day of the week really," he smirks, "And it's down to anything that I do better. You try and work to contribute in all the three parts of the game."