GARETH Batty is attempting to change the traditional image of defensive home-grown spinners.

The Worcestershire off-spinner is advocating a dedicated approach to his art which he hopes will one day give England a significant edge.

England captains have long bemoaned the lack of a high-class spinner with the ability to bowl a mystery ball like Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq or Australia's Shane Warne .

Many have tried and failed to become England's spinning match-winner but have never warranted being bracketed with the very best.

But that is a situation which Batty is attempting to change and for the last 18 months he has been consulting with the world's best spinners.

He has been gleaning advice on how to add the delivery which turns in the opposite direction to a traditional off-spinner, to his armoury.

"I've got one that I can almost get to go straight consistently but to get it to go the other way is pretty difficult," admitted Batty, who has been working on the delivery for 18 months.

"From 18 yards I can do it reasonably well and I'm bringing it back bit by bit. There's no point copying anyone because it's already been done. You've got to do something different.

"I don't think anyone is ever happy with just being a bog-standard spinner, most are always trying to do something different," said Batty.