As I’ve previously written, Root must be relived of the captaincy and I cannot see any option but to ask Ben Stokes to take it on. I hope for his own sanity he can step away from white ball cricket and lead this side from no 6.
The side needs a clear DNA of 6 batsmen, wicket keeper, spin bowler and 3 seam bowlers.
Of the current Ashes squad I can only see Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Wood, Robinson being certain of a place in Gary Kirsten’s test team in West Indies.
Joining those 5 players will be wicket-keeper Ben Foakes and in an ideal world both Olly Stone and Jofra Archer. However Archer will not be fit for this tour and Stone it seems is also unlikely to be fit. This opens up opportunities for Saqib Mahmood and George Garton. Both have been in the test squad before and they each offer their own points of difference with reverse swing, pace and in the case of Garton the left arm angle.
Of the batsmen, Crawley and Hameed have a great platform. Crawley I think will get more time, his bat comes down from the wrong angle and he closes the face a little. However, he has time to play and times the ball very well. With the correct coaching and mentoring he could be a very fine player.
Pope too is likely to persevered with, he has regressed under the current leadership but he has talent, technique and is still only 24.
I don’t believe that Yates, Haines, Brook or Jamie Smith are ready yet. I believe that Gubbins, Hain, Abell and Joe Clarke have some of the fundamental attributes needed to play test cricket.
What about Rory Burns? He developed his ‘quirky’ technique to maximise his success in first class cricket. Previously he was much more orthodox and I believe his talent and temperament are a good fit for test cricket. After the 1999/00 South Africa tour Mark Butcher was dropped and overhauled his technique, eventually returning in 2001 to great success. With the right help to reduce the moving parts Burns still has something to offer.
Matty Parkinson is 25 year old and has 102 first class wickets at 23 and a strike rate of 50! He doesn’t have the control of Leach, nor the batting or fielding of Dom Bess but who is most likely to take wickets on day 4 or 5 of a test match? Who is more likely to bowl out tailenders (something we struggle with). Parkinson should play and I’d be inclined to take Mason Crane as like for like support.
- Zak Crawley
- Rory Burns
- Joe Root
- Ollie Pope
- Jonny Bairstow
- Ben Stokes *
- Ben Foakes +
- George Garton
- Mark Wood
- Ollie Robinson
- Matt Parkinson
12th: Nick Gubbins, Tom Abell, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Olly Stone