England have just announced their opening XI for their final Test series before the Ashes later this year. So, how are they faring, what are the key talking points, and just how scared should Australia be, come November.
Promise shown against Zimbabwe
In their first Test of the English summer, England continued their Bazball style in great fashion with a thumping of Zimbabwe. The top order had a field day in a victory that only took them one innings, with both openers and Ollie Pope at number 3 scoring centuries. Shoaib Bashir, got nine wickets in the Test, proving his doubters wrong and establishing himself as England’s principal spinner. Whilst the real test will come against India, the demolition of Zimbabwe shows that this England team are only just getting started.
Atkinson injury reflects lack of depth
Surrey fast bowler Atkinson burst onto the scene last year, with figures of 12/106 on his debut at Lord’s, and looked set to lead England’s attack for years to come. However, the injury that put him out of the first India Test has exposed a severe lack of depth in England’s bowling force. Veteran Chris Woakes will most likely lead the bowling, with the less experienced Brydon Carse and Matt Tongue following suit, with Bashir as the spinner.
Chris Woakes celebrates the wicket of Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Ben Stokes and Joe Root could also come into the fray, but Australia’s batters will surely look favourably upon that lineup, which has failed to produce any heirs, apart from Atkinson, to the thrones of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Whilst Jack Leach will be pressing on the heels of Bashir, a given as Leach is already preferred over Bashir at county level for Somerset, a couple more injuries could make England very weak come the end of the year.
Battle for No.3
The main debate for the England selectors this summer will be whether Jacob Bethell replaces Ollie Pope at number 3. Pope has had a mixed international career so far yet has steadily improved over the last few years as a reliable performer. Bethell, on the other hand, has scored three half-centuries in his three tests to date, and lit up the limited over series against West Indies with a rapid 82 last month. Stokes has kept faith with Pope after his magnificent 171 against New Zealand, but a poor performance this English summer could lead to 21-year-old Bethell being the one to start in the Ashes.
Can Stokes still deliver post-injury?
England’s star man Ben Stokes had an injury hit start to the year, but returned just in time to take a handy three wickets against Zimbabwe. Questions have been asked over his fitness, which will be rigorously answered over the five-match series against India. The weight of captaincy has seemed to be a feather on his back so far, but will the pressure of an oncoming Ashes begin to test the strength of one of England’s greatest?
