TIME FOR TOM!
England plump for Essex man at No 3
It took an injury to force their hand but England yesterday finally chose something like the squad that should have started the test summer as they attempt to pick up the pieces from their horrible defeat at trent Bridge.
three players could make their debuts against South Africa in what will be the 100th test at the oval next week, with tom Westley a certain starter at No 3 in place of the stricken Gary Ballance.
there could also be a first test cap for toby Roland- Jones even though Mark Wood has sufficiently recovered from the bruised heel that might have contributed to his wicketless performance in the second test.
And England have done what they should have before the first test at Lord’s and followed trevor Bayliss’s instinct in calling up Dawid Malan after his eyecatching full international debut in the last twenty20 at Cardiff.
there is still, inexplicably, a place for Liam Dawson in the 13-man squad but he will miss out if Bayliss and Joe Root decide to play Malan as an extra batsman.
the most notable absentee is Mark Stoneman, strongly tipped for a call-up, but he misses out on his adopted home ground because England want to give keaton Jennings an extended run at the top of the order.
Ballance, of course, should not have started the series in the first place but at least his fractured finger gives England the chance to discover whether Westley, at 28, has what it takes to feature in the Ashes this winter.
Crucially, the Essex man is a right-hander which at least breaks up the left-hand dominated top three that has played into the hands of South Africa’s outstanding opening bowlers Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.
Westley said: ‘ I had James Whitaker’s number on my phone from previous Lions selections so when I saw it come up I was hoping for good news but nothing can prepare you for when it happens.’
Alastair Cook calls his county team-mate one of the funniest people he has ever played with, and Westley returns the compliment by calling the former England captain ‘boring’.
‘Cooky called me to say congratulations and said to let him know if he could help me in any way,’ said Westley. ‘I’ve learned so much from him over the years. He was in the car with his daughter Elsie so she said congratulations to me as well!’
the reputation off the oval for sometimes helpingng spin may save Dawson, even though the last timeme England played twoo spinners there wass the failed experiment with Simon kerrigan in the 2013 Ashes.
Dawson, it has emerged, has only ever been a shortterm option untill Chris Woakes regainsns fitness and can bat again at eight, also paving the way for Mason Crane as second spinnernner lower down. Dawson’s chances of playing at the oval are also improved by England not wanting to bat Moeen Ali any lower than seven. But they are in danger of making a negative out of the very positive of having three world- class all- rounders in Moeen, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.
And the art of selection should always include having one eye on the bigger challenges ahead and if Dawson has no chance of playing in the Ashes, which he hasn’t, then he should not be wasting time by playing now.
After the highs of Lord’s and the very lows of Nottingham it is impossible to predict which England will turn up at the oval. At least they have given themselves a chance not to carry any more passengers.