Better catch on fast, England...
FORGET England’s dire away form for now. All that matters for Joe Root and his players is victory in the two-Test series against Pakistan that starts at Lord’s today.
The Ashes was always going to be tough, even if the manner of the 4-0 hammering by Australia in the winter was hard to take.
Defeat in New Zealand, a series that saw them bowled out for 58 in the first Test in Auckland, was far more serious, not least because it took England’s winless run on the road to an all-time low of 13 matches.
Back home both Root, entering his second year in charge, and England know the pressure is on to deliver.
Pakistan drew here 2-2 two years ago.
Their team this time are younger, less experienced and missing three key men from that 2016 series in retired captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and the injured leg spinner Yasir Shah.
As ever, nothing can be taken for granted against Pakistan, the most mercurial team in world cricket.
But they really should be there for the taking.
This summer, which includes five Tests against India, promises to be a defining moment for Root and the Test team as a whole. The Yorkshireman knows it too. “We’ve had different challenges to deal with and we haven’t been at our best this winter,” he said. “But this summer is a really good marker, we can judge at the back end of these seven Test matches.”
How harshly England are judged will depend on how they perform.
Last summer was a good one for Root, the 27-year-old getting his captaincy off the mark with series wins over South Africa and West Indies.
Yet defeats against both, first at Trent Bridge to the Proteas and at Headingley to the Windies, hinted at the weaknesses that would be ruthlessly exposed in the winter.
Changes have been made, with Root accepting he finally needs to be a permanent fixture at No3 in the batting order and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, the team’s secondbest batsman, promoted to No5.
PROBABLE TEAMS
ENGLAND:
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood.
PAKISTAN: That has allowed Jos Buttler, a superstar in white-ball cricket but unproven in the Test arena, to be recalled at No7. There is also a debut for Somerset’s 20-year-old off-spinner Dom Bess. These are all positive changes and England, if they perform, should reap the benefits. “We want to make sure we have a side that gives us as many options as possible in each department,” said Root. “Look at someone like Jos at No7. “He can take the game to the opposition and from a position of strength make it even stronger and maximise the top order’s runs.” As for Bess, Root said: “He is very confident and seems like he is really clear about what he wants to do in the game. That is all you can ask of somebody going to make his debut.” England will decide on the final place in their XI this morning, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood fighting it out for the last spot Wood, whose extra pace gives the bowling attack something different, would be the progressive pick. Yet, at home, England may be tempted to go with Woakes despite a poor winter. This is also the first appearance for Ben Stokes in England since his arrest last September. The incident in Bristol – for which the all-rounder is facing trial later this summer – saw him miss the Ashes before he was recalled for the New Zealand tour. Root is glad to have Stokes back, especially as he is now fully recovered from the back injury that restricted his bowling in New Zealand. “To have him around is a massive boost,” said Root. “To have his bowling as well will add to our attack and give us a different dimension.” All England’s players will be under pressure to perform but former captain Alastair Cook needs runs to quell talk of his future after he scored just 23 runs in New Zealand. “I think he’s in a good place,” said Root. “He has huge experience. I see him playing for another couple of years at least. When he scores runs, it correlates with us doing well.”
Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt/ wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Rahat Ali. Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS), Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL). Lord’s, today, 11am. Sky Sports Cricket.