Batting order needs to be settled – and quickly
England have just seven matches before Ashes to find right players for at least three positions
England have serious batting problems that need to be solved in these next seven Test matches before the Ashes tour begins in November.
They have lost seven of their past 11 Test matches and need to get on a winning streak that breeds confidence. There is no settled batting order, just a mixing and matching of players in different positions.
Numbers two, three and five are like the juggler’s balls: up in the air in terms of personnel and ability. Keaton Jennings was going to bat three but because of Haseeb Hameed’s loss of form now has to open.
Gary Ballance is a No5 for Yorkshire but will have to bat three for England. When Alastair Cook was captain, Trevor Bayliss, the coach, pushed Joe Root up to three, but Joe wants to bat at four.
The new captain is our best technical batsman and should bat where he feels most comfortable and where he can score his runs and best control the innings.
For me the coach’s view is irrelevant. He does not have to bat and score any runs. Also with only two quality tried and tested batsmen in Cook and Root, it is not a good idea to expose them both so early to the new ball.
It is also not ideal to keep expecting Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali to keep getting England out of jail. The top five batsmen have to start making consistent scores. Jennings made a hundred in his first Test match innings and looked pretty good but he has also had two failures, nought and one, in his four innings so this summer we should get a clearer picture of whether he is any good or not.
There have been batsmen in the past who have flattered with a hundred on debut but lacked the technical ability to sustain it or the mental toughness to accept the extra pressure of international cricket. John Hampshire made 107 against West Indies in 1969 on debut but played only eight Tests and averaged 26.
Frank Hayes scored 106 not out at the Oval in 1973 against West Indies but played only nine Tests and averaged 15. There is even Mark Ramprakash. He played 52 Tests and averaged 27. He had a classical, textbook technique and seemed a certainty to be a topquality batsman but mentally could not cut it. He was more successful as a dancer, winning Strictly Come Dancing, than scoring runs for England.
There is no obvious young talent that has convinced the selectors to pick them so they need to go with a mature, in-form batsman.
Ballance is not an international No3, even though he has scored centuries in that spot, but mentally he is a tough little bugger. He has a strong character, is very determined and will fight like hell.
Hameed cannot score a run at the moment. He has talent, the technique and the temperament but when most youngsters are developing it is not a straightforward upward curve. It is going to be a bumpy ride. Two steps forward, one step back.
We have a lot of good seam bowlers but the problem is keeping them fit. We have to accept that James Anderson is 35 this month and is suffering a lot of injuries. He is a wonderful athlete, but time catches up with everyone.
He has had a heavy workload in his career, playing 122 Tests and 194 one-dayers for England. When you think players like Fred Trueman played 67 Tests and Brian Statham 70 it gives you an idea of the exceptional workload Jimmy has handled.
For me it is not about his ability, it is about proving he can stay fit because over the past two years he has missed nine Tests. He has missed Tests in India and South Africa over the past two winters. When you are thinking of the Australia tour later this year, he has to convince England he can stay fit because when he misses Tests through injury it takes him a long time to come back and find his nip off the pitch.
That is the problem and he is the one with the big question mark over whether he goes to Australia. This is when he has to prove his fitness.
Stuart Broad is also picking up injuries. He is 31 and played 102 Tests and 121 one-dayers and although he is a bit younger than Jimmy, the injuries are starting to pile up. It is not just about age – it is about the amount of work they have done. They are our best two bowlers but seven Tests in eight weeks is a real challenge. There is no question about their talent and ability but Brian Clough once told Eddie Gray, the very talented left-winger of Leeds: “If you aren’t fit to get on the park, you are no good to the team and no good to yourself.” That is the key with these two fine bowlers. Can they stay on the park?