So, England are ready to go once again, starting a two test series against New Zealand on the 16th February. As usual, the pre series discussion is largely focused on the upcoming Ashes series, and how performances in this short series may impact on selection in the summer.
England’s team for this series at least more or less picks itself. The top 6 will be, barring injury, almost certainly the same line up that played against Pakistan in the last test, with Messrs Duckett and Crawley to open and Ollie Pope at 3. Ben Duckett in particular had a great deal of success in the series in Pakistan, showcasing his excellent playing of spin, but this series against a strong New Zealand attack, even without Trent Boult who now seems to be a T20 specialist, will test his technique against the seaming ball. England will hope he can demonstrate a solid enough technique to cope with pace and movement against high class seamers.
Both Pope and Crawley have had intermittent success but both still average 32 and 28 respectively, hardly figures to boast of. Zak Crawley in particular seems almost untouchable despite his less than stellar career so far, a weakness outside off stump being continually exploited with the occasional flamboyant innings continuing to be used to justify his selection. Ollie Pope appears more technically secure, but both players will want to score heavily to ensure their selection in the summer. The only spare batsman in the squad, Dan Lawrence, is more of a middle order option, suggesting this top 3 will play in both matches.
Joe Root at 4, Harry Brook at 5 and Ben Stokes at 6 are locked in for selection, with Ben Foakes to keep at 7. The absence of Jonny Bairstow, still injured after his golfing miss-hap, means the usual speculation about the wicketkeeper and composition of the side more generally can be put on one side for this series at least. For me, having the best keeper is essential, given the importance that England take any chances offered by the best batsmen in the opposing side. Dropping Kane Williamson or Steve Smith and then watching them compile a vast score is a prospect to haunt every England fan. Ben Foakes, in addition to being the finest keeper available, is also a solid batsman, with a higher average than Zak Crawley. If anyone should be dropped when Bairstow is available again, then it should not be Foakes, in my opinion at least.
Onto the bowlers then. Jack Leach will probably play as Stokes, rightly, seems to prefer to go in with a specialist spinner. England have a squad packed with seamers, with Robinson, Broad and Potts, as well as Jimmy himself at 40 years young, and Stokes himself providing the fast-medium options, with Olly Stone to provide the pace. I would hope that Stone is pickied in both tests, fitness permitting, to show what England have been missing during his long periods of injury. It is heartening that, for the moment at least, England have Messrs Wood, Stone and Archer all fit, increasing the chance of us being able to field a bowler of genuine pace in each test of the home summer.
The pitches in New Zealand seem likely to be fairly flat, as at least some grounds still make use of “drop in” pitches. New Zealand were the first opponents to experience Bazball last summer, albeit Jonny Bairstow is unavailable for this series. They are a formidable side at home, with a solid batting line up led by Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, and seamers of the calibre of Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee more than capable of bowling England out even on flat wickets.
England will doubtless attack with the bat, and given the players selected and the composition of the side, it will be entertaining viewing for however long it lasts. England’s seam attack should always create chances, and on wickets that are likely to be slow, their close catching will have to be sharp if they are to continue their winning streak. It should be a competitive series, with New Zealand keen to avenge their drubbing at the hands of the Bazballers last summer. Let’s hope England’s brave new world can continue, and we can start the year on a high.