Much is the same, but there remains a feeling of surprise following the release of England’s first Test squad of the summer.
It’s the first time new national selector Ed Smith has had input – and he’s wasted no time in stamping his authority, it seems.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s return is the headline news, fresh from his stunning exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL). And there will be a debut for off-spinner Dominic Bess, a little-known 20-year-old preferred to the experienced Moeen Ali – the Three Lions’ best player last summer.
But the most surprising aspect of Smith’s first squad is the continued inclusion of opener Mark Stoneman, despite his inability to convert starts for England during a poor winter and a difficult start to the county season with Surrey. The emerging Nick Gubbins, the in-form Keaton Jennings, and Stoneman’s county captain Rory Burns all appeared to have a chance of replacing him, as reported on The Sportsman this week. But, this commentator has been proved to have been wide of the mark.
Batsman James Vince’s double century for Hampshire this week came too late to save his place and it is he who Buttler has essentially replaced. Jonny Bairstow is likely to keep his place as wicketkeeper given his stunning form over the last year, meaning Buttler is picked as a specialist batsman for the first time.
Given he hasn’t played red-ball cricket since the end of last season, and he has been out of the Test fray for 18 months, Buttler’s recall has to go down as a surprise. Sure, he’s in scintillating form in the IPL with five successive Twenty20 half-centuries. However, whacking the ball to all parts in a limited time doesn’t compare to the need to show resilience and determination in a five-day match.
Many will argue, and I am one of them, that Buttler’s world class ability means he should be able to tweak his game as required to suit whatever conditions he is thrown into by England. Starting this summer at Lord’s against Pakistan, from 24 May. And his likely place in the lower middle order – with Bairstow and all-rounder Ben Stokes sure to move up the reckoning behind the openers – Alastair Cook and Stoneman – Joe Root and Dawid Malan – means he will be given licence to attack anyway. Either to take a solid platform beyond the tourist’s reach or to add quick runs to an inadequate looking score.
One thing Buttler will have in spades now is confidence. His stunning stroke-making in Asia has made him the toast of India – no mean feat. And a confident Buttler is one any bowler in the world will fear, no matter the colour of the ball, the conditions or what has happened before. That’s why his return – as bold as it seems – makes complete sense.
Here's a glimpse of what the @SomersetCCC man is capable of...
Bess’ inclusion hadn’t been predicted – but Smith and his fellow selectors, who would have included captain Root, coach Trevor Bayliss and director of cricket Andrew Strauss at some stage in the process – lost their first pick Jack Leach due to injury yesterday. So while Bess, Leach’s Somerset teammate, wasn’t on most people’s radars, a desire not to return to Ali after his dismal winter meant he quickly moved up the pecking order. Though Surrey’s Amar Virdi can count himself unlucky after a fine start to the season.
England have a tendency to want to promote from within. In Bess they are familiar owing to his performances for the Lions in the West Indies in March. They also spot someone with the potential to become a long-term mainstay, which in the spinning department they have been desperate for since the retirement of Graeme Swann in 2013. Bess can also bat – always a plus with Root’s men prone to a collapse.
Unless England want to pick five right-arm seamers next week, Bess will make his debut. And Buttler hasn’t been recalled to carry the drinks. So from Smith’s first 12-man squad it appears Chris Woakes – poor in the winter but usually so strong in home conditions – or Mark Wood, who offers genuine pace, will be 12th man.
Smith’s had his say. The decisions now move to Root.
England squad to face Pakistan at Lord’s on 24 May: Cook, Stoneman, Malan, Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler, Woakes, Broad, Bess, Anderson, Wood.
