FORMER England captain John Emburey has been discussing Somerset's spinning pitches as the fallout from England's thumping Ashes defeat continues.

The pitch at the Cooper Associates County Ground has become notorious for providing turn since midway through the 2016 season, with spin twins Jack Leach and Dom Bess enjoying plenty of success on home soil.

Somerset's approach has divided opinion. Some feel it hands an unfair advantage to the hosts - Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser branded Somerset "a disgrace" after his side's defeat in the final match of the 2017 season - while others see the benefits in playing on different types of pitch to throw up new challenges and prepare players for foreign conditions.

Given England's spin woes in the recent Ashes series - Moeen Ali and Mason Crane took six wickets between them, while Nathan Lyon took 21 for Australia - and their 4-0 defeat in India last winter, the national side's lack of a potent spin option has been one of the primary talking points following the humbling overseas.

Former off-spinner Emburey has come up with a proposal to pool around £3m into a spin bowling fund which would involve coaching and identifying talent, which will be considered by Andrew Strauss.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Emburey gave details of the plan and went on to discuss Somerset's pitches.

He said: "I think they've been very fortunate with the pitches they've had not to be docked points, but are they actually the crusaders for change?

"Why should pitches always be flat? Why not have pitches that spin? Batsmen have got to learn and develop skills against spin as well. Taunton is a pitch where you've got to adapt your game to get runs.

"The issue Leach and Bess would have after bowling on turning wickets is then having to learn how to bowl on a flat wicket, in terms of changes of pace and flight." 

Somerset's pitch for the decisive season-ending match against Middlesex was marked as 'below average', and CEO Lee Cooper has suggested the club will change their approach next season to avoid a similar rating, which would lead to a points deduction. 

Emburey, however, said: "The Board have got to relax a bit in this respect. They have the ends bare at Taunton, but there is a bit of grass in the middle to give the seamers some encouragement and the ball to go through. To me they're good cricket pitches."

England's squad for the upcoming tour to New Zealand is announced at 10pm tonight (Wednesday).