England squad for Test series in Pakistan: Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood.
During Lockdown, a lot of 1990s cricket highlights were uploaded to YouTube. You can watch highlights of just about every England test match of the 1990s. In virtually every game you find an odd selection. Selection in this era was somewhat inconsistent – particularly when Ray Illingworth was involved. But even post-Illingworth, players got few chances. Consider the case of John ‘Creepy’ Crawley. In 1996 he replaced Graeme Hick against Pakistan and embarked on a decent run of scores – not world-beating, but he did ok. Aftrr scoring a a fifty and a hundred against Pakistan he had a good winter tour which included 2 hundreds, a fifty and a vital not out against New Zealand. He struggled against the 1997 Austalians, but after scoring 2 fifties against McGrath, Gillespie and Warne he found himself dropped. A year later he would be back and would make a great 100 against Sri Lanka. Imagine if he had been given a bit more time?
These days, we tend to give players more time, but I think the players that will have challenged that desire for consistency will have been England’s top three. Alex Lees might feel unlucky, but he has failed to make a big score in his 10 games. Keaton Jennings, on the other hand, probably is fortunate to be in the squad, but it recognises a brilliant season for Lancashire and his success in India and Sri Lanka in the past. ‘Creepy’ Crawley’s namesake, Zak Crawley, along with Ollie Pope, have just about done enough to tour. Crawley in particular needs a hundred, but Pope also only has 2 centuries for England.
One thing that Brendon McCullum has provided is clarity around roles. This is most obvious in the wicket keeping department, with Ben Foakes the clearly preferred ‘keeper. Once roles are clear, selection gets easier. So we know that Crawley opens, Pope goes in at three, Joe Root at 4 and Ben Stokes at 6. The batting slots up for grabs are the Crawley’s partner and number 5. The obvious assumption is that Jennings and Harry Brook will occupy those spots, but the nature of England’s squad means this is not certain, particularly if England want to play two spinners.
For specialist batting cover, England have gone with Ben Duckett, who took his chance in the T20 series against Pakistan. Duckett will also act as wicket keeping cover, alongside Pope. For fast bowling, Jamie Overton is unlikely to be first choice – whilst he made a brilliant 99 in his one appearance of the summer, his bowling was eratic, but he does have a bit of pace. They have elected to go without a specialist back up wicket keeper, with Pope and Duckett available to keep wicket – this is definitely a risk, one that has caught England out in the past.
When it comes to spin bowling, it gets more interesting. With Matt Parkinson seemingly out of favour, Jack Leach was initially the only specialist spinner. Rehan Ahmed has since been added to the squad, which is a very positive selection, and whilst I would be surpised if Ahmed played in the first game, I do not think Stokes and McCullum would select a player to carry the drinks all series. Initially though, England went with Liam Livingstone and Will Jacks, as spin bowling all rounders who both bat in the way McCullum and Stokes would want
As ever, it will come down to how Stokes and McCullum want to balance the team. Surely England will want to play Mark Wood, but playing Stokes as a third seamer is risky already, without thinking about Wood’s fitness record. That might mean England play Jimmy Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood, alongside Stokes and Leach. This could mean Root acting as a second spinner, and would also create quite a long tail (Robinson at 8, then Wood, Leach, Anderson). To mitigate this, England might go with Jacks to open the batting instead of Jennings, therefore creating a more balanced attack.
I suspect England will do the most aggressive thing, which means Livingstone plays, who either replaces Brook or bats down the order and England play just three fast bowlers. And while I see that as a risk, super human Ben Stokes might see it differently.
The most aggrssive option: Jacks, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes, Foakes, Livingstone, Wood, Leach, Anderson
The compromise: Jennings, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes, Foakes, Robinson, Wood, Leach, Anderson
The 4 fast bowlers option: Jacks, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes, Foakes, Livingstone, Wood, Leach, Anderson
Cricketed 