Who are the spin bowlers capable of replacing Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Gareth Batty for England?

Ben Stokes' heroic efforts in Chittagong helped England secure a hard-earned win in the first Test of their two-match series in Bangladesh. The Three Lions' 22-run triumph can, however, only partially mask some of the ongoing issues that continue to undermine captain Alastair Cook's ambition of becoming the number one-ranked team in the world.

Stokes claimed the man of the match award at the MA Aziz Stadium with an Sir Ian Botham-like performance, featuring 103 runs, six wickets and a catch. But on a slow, turgid wicket on the sub-continent, England's trio of spin bowlers – Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Gareth Batty – failed to exert the sort of pressure expected of them.

Here, IBTimes UK looks at the some of the alternative spin options to Rashd, Ali and Batty.

Zafar Ansari

The Surrey all-rounder has been selected on England's tour of Bangladesh and is a very real alternative for the second Test in Dhaka. The left-armer would offer some variety to the Three Lions' attack and his batting is an added bonus.

Ansari, who was educated at Cambridge University, boasts a more-than-useful first-class average in excess of 31 with the bat. However, it is a wicket-taking option that England are seeking – and with an average in excess of 34 with the ball, there is negligible reason to believe Ansari would fare better than the current incumbents.

Monty Panesar

At 34, Panesar's England career already appears to be over. Having established himself in the England side on the tour of India in 2006, the left-armer has failed to realise his early promise and a series of off-field issues stopped him from returning the side.

But if he does manage to resolve his personal troubles, Panesar still has the skills and experience required to become a huge asset for Cook once again.

James Tredwell

Kent favourite Tredwell has enjoyed success in an England shirt before, proving to be able cover for Graeme Swann in the one-day game as the Three Lions rose towards the top of the rankings. In fact, Tredwell averages a Swann-like 27.76 in one-day cricket and 29.18 in Test cricket – but has fallen down the pecking order in recent years.

Given his recent form on the County circuit and his age (34), it would be considered a step backwards if England turned to Tredwell in their hour of need. Mind you, they've already performed a U-turn on the 39-year-old Batty, so you never know...

Mason Crane

At the other end of the age spectrum is Mason Crane, the 19-year-old leg-spinner at Hampshire who is considered to be one of the most exciting prospects in the country. Crane's first-class average is a relatively modest 40.75, but the former England Under-19 international has all of the skills needed to thrive at the top level.

On the flip side, England know it would be an enormous ask for the teenager to be thrown in at the deep end in alien conditions. A thumping at the hands of the Bangladeshi batsman could seriously set Crane's development backwards.

Simon Kerrigan

Kerrigan takes his wickets at 30.05 in first-class cricket and has proven to a match-winner for Lancashire. Indeed, the left-arm spinner is considered to be one of the best operators at County level, having consistently taken wickets since making his first-class debut in 2010.

However, Kerrigan struggled on his one and only appearance for England so far, in the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval in 2013, when his action visibly wilted under an onslaught for Shane Watson. Kerrigan conceded 53 runs from 48 balls on his debut and his reputation has yet to fully recover.

Jack Leach

If England coach Trevor Bayliss is keen to recruit a man in form, then the Australian should look no further than Jack Leach of Somerset. The 25-year-old left-armer enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2016, helping his County to come within a whisker of winning the Championship.

Leach takes his wickets at 25.68 at first-class level and can consider himself unlucky not to have been selected in England's squad for the Bangladesh tour. If Rashid, Batty and Ali continue to go around the park, a much-deserved call-up surely beckons for the bespectacled spinner.