While the Aussies are getting themselves in a total flap about short boundaries on English Grounds, the England Selectors need to pick a team for the First Test Match. The BBC Sport website (other media outlets are available) is running a ‘Pick your England team for first Australia Test at Edgbaston‘, so I thought I would have a go. It is just a bit of fun, but then I have always fancied Luke Wright’s job. Indeed, if I had been Chairman of Selectors in the 1990s, things would have been better (they could hardly have been worse). At the moment, though, picking an England team is rather difficult. I was stumped (excuse the pun).
The men’s Ashes are almost here!
We want you to put yourself in Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s shoes and pick the England side that are going to face old enemy Australia at Edgbaston from 16 June.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65460563
The one everybody is talking about is Jonny Bairstow. Surely Harry Brook is undroppable, so how does Bairstow fit in? But it is equally difficult with the bowling. England have two of the best bowlers they have ever had in Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. They have a potentially lethal wepon in Jofra Archer, while Mark Wood was the only player to come out of the last Ashes series with any credit. Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach were at the opposite end of the spectrum in the last Ashes series – who can forget Robinson backing away to square leg giving Australia the final wicket of the series in Hobart?) but are almost mainstays of the team now.
What is almost certain is that England will stick with the players who have got them to where they are now – and it has been a remarkable year or so. That means that Leach is likely to stay as the senior spin bowler, and I do not expect Ben Stokes to call upon Rehan Ahmed ahead of Leach, at least not yet. We can also expect Zac Crawley to keep his place, opening with Ben Duckett. That logic is harder when it comes to the faster men. Anderson has been a fixture , but we saw in New Zealand that he does tire more quickly when he has to come back for more spells, particularly if the follow-on is enforced. Broad has not been a permanent fixure, and sometimetimes lacked penetration. Robinson has been constant, but surely Archer and Wood must play a role if fit. Matty Potts had a brilliant start, but it is hard to see him usurping any of the names already mentioned.
Team balance looks to be set as well. Stokes will bat at six, with Joe Root at 4 providing that stability in all of the BazBall craziness. Ollie Pope seems established at three – though I think he needs more runs and less walking around in his crease – Alex Carey will have noted the way that Pope was so easily unnerved when Tom Blundell stood up to the stumps in Australia. If the groundsman respect Stokes’ request for pacey wickets, it is unlikely two spinners will play in England – though England should not dismiss this so quickly as they do. It means that the team structure is to have a top 5, an allrounder at 6 and ‘keeper at 7, followed by 3 pace bowlers and a spinner.
What about Rest and Rotation? Surely the batters and ‘keeper will be consistent all series, barring a terrible loss of form or an injury. But it is inconceiveable that England will get the same three pace bowlers through 5 test matches so close together. Rest and Rotation can work – it did work well for England in 2019 when they were clear about roles – but that fell apart on the India tour when selection was totally random. Stokes and Brendon McCullum must consider combinations. I expect England to start with Anderson, Robinson and Archer / Wood. Any bowler who is to be roated in or out later in the series must know that from the start. Of course, it is a risk to play either Archer or Wood if Stokes fitness is not guaranteed, but a certain amount of risk is needed if England are to be victorious.
So, we have the bowlers, but what aout the top 7. Assuming everyone is fit, I can see four options, none of which are satisfactory.
- Make no changes. Bairstow does not play. After Bairstow’s destructive powers in 2022, surely this will not do.
- Bairstow comes in to open and replaces Crawley. Bairstow has never had success up the order except one century in Sri Lanka batting at three. It is not his role.
- Foakes is dropped in favour of Bairstow to keep wicket. Appart from the fact that this would be harsh on Foakes, Bairstow’s success in 2022 was as a middle order player with a clear role. One also must worry about Bairstow’s fitness to keep wicket for multiple days in a test match so soon after returning from injury.
- Bairstow replaces Crawley but comes in at 4 with Root to open. The worry here is that Australia could get rid of Root very early on. Root at 4 offers some stability. Let’s not forget – without Root at Lords last year, BazBall would not have got off the ground.
Despite reservations, it is the last option I have plumped for. I can not drop Ben Foakes as I just think he has done nothing wrong and a lot right. I like his solidarity and proper technique down at 7 – I think England will need digging out of holes. Last year, Bairstow benefitted from time to get in – he did not need to go ‘hell for leather’ from ball one.
The big risk is that Root goes early, and it is a massive lift for the Aussies. But Root has not had much success against the old enemy since 2015. Maybe it is time to try something different.
My XI: Duckett, Root, Pope, Bairstow, Brook, Stokes (c), Foakes (+), Robinson, Leach, Archer, Anderson.
For the second test match: Duckett, Root, Pope, Bairstow, Brook, Stokes (c), Foakes (+), Broad, Leach, Wood, Anderson.
Cricketed 