Pakistan's impressive nine-wicket win at Lord's marked the first time that England had lost the first Test of a home summer in 23 years and it was the hosts' seventh defeat in their last ten outings. Something is horribly wrong with English cricket. An average first innings score of 277 from those past ten Tests would suggest that the rusty batting is in badly need of some oiling but, no, the critics are calling for a creaking bowling attack to be replaced. It was ever thus.
Former England captain and current broadcaster, Michael Vaughan, has been outspoken in his criticism of the England team and he has gone as far as to suggest that one of the two bowling stalwarts, James Anderson or Stuart Broad - the men with 946 Test scalps between them - should be dropped for the second Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Friday.
It seems unthinkable that England's all-time leading wicket-taker Anderson will be dropped as the 35-year-old has been an indispensable member of this side since Joe Root was appointed captain in February 2017. In 15 Test matches since Root's appointment, Anderson has taken 68 wickets at 19.36 - hardly statistics of a man in decline.
The case for Stuart Broad is less clear cut - 43 wickets at 34.44 in 15 Tests under Root. The 31-year-old has struggled for rhythm and he can't even call upon an overwhelming record on home soil to support his case (21 wickets at 35.80 Tests since the start of last summer). However, there is always the tantalising possibility of Broad clicking and producing one of 'those' spells. Knees pumping, arms whirling, eyes bulging, Broad is capable of spells that can blow teams away.
Once an all-rounder who could change games with a purple patch of form, Broad is a shadow of the batsman who once scored a Test century at Lord's and the perception is that he is a bowler on the wane, despite improved returns since tinkering with his action prior to the recent tour of New Zealand.
George Dobell, the respected Cricinfo reporter, suggested via Twitter on Thursday that Broad might be dropped from the team at Headingley, meaning Chris Woakes would come in at his expense, with Surrey's Sam Curran currently on standby for his international debut as cover for Ben Stokes, who is set to undergo a late fitness test.
Woakes is renowned as a player who thrives in English conditions and he has taken 42 wickets at 24.28 in 11 home Tests since his debut against Australia at The Oval in August 2013. In the same period of time, Broad has taken 111 wickets at 27.36 and Anderson has weighed in with 131 at 19.31, while Mark Wood has managed 22 at 44.00 from nine Tests.
Broad has played more Tests than Anderson, Wood and Woakes in the same time-frame, which critics may argue is because the England selectors have persisted with him for too long. It is also testament to the longevity of the tall fast-bowler.
The issue facing Broad is that he is no longer viewed as indispensable. He has been unfortunate at times as some brilliant spells have gone wicket-less due to the ineptitude of the English fielders - which is a discussion for another day - but he is set to be shunned in favour of a bowling attack that can call upon the experience of Anderson, the home prowess of Woakes and the potential of Wood filling a role as an 'enforcer' who bowls short, rapid spells to ruffle batsmen up.
Broad's batting is the other issue as he had previously been classed as an 'all-rounder' but his form has regressed to that of a tail-end 'rabbit'. Where Woakes bolsters the lower order with valuable runs, Broad can barely be relied upon to prop up an end. Being dropped for the second Test could be just the rocket that inspires Broad to come back firing, although the prospect of England's second-highest wicket-taker carrying drinks for Sam Curran in Leeds might be an ignominy too far.
