It’s almost time for the talking to stop, meaning England can get on with attempting to banish their winter woes.
On Thursday at Lord’s, the Test summer starts in earnest as the Three Lions take on Pakistan in the first of the two-match series.
Since their meek Ashes defence ended in a 4-0 defeat, and New Zealand prolonged the Barmy Army’s wait for a victory, there has been plenty to ponder for captain Joe Root, director of cricket Andrew Strauss and, eventually, new national selector Ed Smith.
Supporters, commentators and writers alike discussed who should make way and who could claim a place in Root’s first starting XI of the summer, with the intention of getting England’s Test side back on an upward curve.
Not much, though, has changed. At least personnel wise. Out-of-form openers Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman have been given another go. The seamers all featured heavily Down Under and only two new players have been selected. In comes Jos Buttler for James Vince and, only owing to an injury to his club teammate Jack Leach, young Somerset spinner Dom Bess.
It means there are plenty still with points to prove and question marks to remove. Here are the three players I think have the most to play for.
Alastair Cook
It’s always a difficult one to criticise Cook, given the outstanding career he has had for England. Indeed, should everything go according to plan, he’ll equal the record set by former Australia captain Allan Border for successive Test appearances – 153 – at Lord’s on Thursday.
However, the feeling persists that he won’t go much further than breaking that record in the second Test at Headingley unless his form vastly improves.
Cook experienced his worst ever series average in the New Zealand defeat as left-armer Trent Boult pulverised him, taking his wicket early on all four occasions with Cook reaching double figures just once. That followed an Ashes tour that was saved only by a magnificent double hundred in the drawn Test of Melbourne. Since a century in his last series as captain in 2016, Cook has just three 50s, as well as two ‘daddy’ hundreds – at the MCG and against West Indies at Edgbaston. He has to bring an end to the feast or famine record he has had over the last year – and generally it’s been famine.
During 12 largely successful years in the England set-up Cook has become his country’s leading run-maker, with more than 12,000 to his name. But he can only hide behind those statistics for so long. He increasingly looks a spent force and will be concerned about the prospect of facing Boult-like Mohammad Amir. He needs to come through this series with runs on the board, or the calls for his axe will grow.
Mark Wood
The seamer is likely to get the nod over Chris Woakes, which will be the right choice despite the latter’s hugely impressive last summer for England. All-rounder Woakes has been magnificent in home conditions in the past, but let himself down in the winter. His inclusion would only strengthen the arguments that England’s bowling attack is too one-dimensional and like-for-like.
While the ever-present James Anderson and Stuart Broad are showing no signs of waning – Broad was back to his best in New Zealand after a difficult Ashes, while Anderson remained England’s best bowler – Wood does at least offer something different. He is the quickest of the candidates in the Test frame right now.
However, since breaking into the side in 2015, the Durham pace ace has struggled for consistency. Statistically, his record doesn’t make for great reading – just 28 wickets from 11 matches, with an average closing on 42.
Injury hampered his progress after an explosive start, but he has found form in limited overs cricket. Now he needs to bring it back to the Test arena, with England desperate to find a consistently quick seamer to be a point of difference.
Wood is under pressure for his place from Woakes, and from commentators – and no doubt the selectors – to deliver good on his potential. His debut against New Zealand saw regular balls delivered at 90mph. His pace his down, but he can still get close to that magical mark. With Pakistan’s batting lineup as weak as it has been in many a year, he has a chance to seize his moment. If he doesn’t, he’ll soon slip back down the pecking order.
Ben Stokes
A controversial choice given Stokes is undoubtedly England’s best player. The all-rounder is a match-winner capable of world-class contributions with bat, ball or just in the field. And it’s inaccurate to say it is ‘make or break’ for him, in the same way as I’ve argued with Cook and Wood.
However, he does have a point to prove. After missing the Ashes for disciplinary reasons, he returned without much of a bang in New Zealand, despite much fanfare. And he disappointed this time around in the IPL as his teammate Jos Buttler stole the limelight.
With an impending court case looming that will take Stokes’ mind away from his day job – to get runs and take wickets to help England to become the world’s leading side in three formats – as well as the potential repercussions of a guilty verdict, Stokes’ stock could soon fall.
A big performance at Lord’s or Headingley – or even both – will keep the critics at bay and re-inforce his value to the team. Stokes is desperate to start hitting the right notes once more and get people talking about his cricket once again, that’s why he does have a point to prove and will be one to watch very closely in the coming days.
