County scene no longer produces Test batsmen
A domestic game that is focused on short formats has left England with three worrying vacancies
This series is all about finding out if any young batsmen can secure a place in the England squad to tour Australia this winter. Sure, we all want England to beat the West Indies, and we are all curious about the first day-night Test match in England and how the pink ball will perform. But frankly, it is more important to find three batsmen.
England are no further forward after four Test matches against South Africa. In fact, we are now further back than when the summer started.
Keaton Jennings flattered on slow Indian pitches, but on English pitches his technique was exposed. Gary Ballance has had little chance to show whether he has improved his technique or not because of a broken bone in his hand. Dawid Malan has yet to stay in long enough for us to know whether he can score runs at international level. Tom Westley is good on the on side, but naive and flawed outside off stump. Sooner or later, bowlers will catch on and bowl consistently in the corridor of uncertainty outside off stump. That is when the stern examination will really begin.
All eyes and all hopes will be on Mark Stoneman, and England supporters will want him to succeed.
It is desperation time. That is why these Test matches are so important. Three batting positions are up for grabs, and we are all crying out for some young batsmen to succeed. There has never been a better or easier opportunity for a youngster to nail down a trip Down Under to compete for the Ashes.
The cupboard is bare. Counties put so much emphasis on one-day cricket that youngsters are being taught and judged on their strike rate, or how many sixes and fours they can hit.
In a Test match, the opposite is true. You need to be able to survive, to stay in with a good defence, before you start playing shots. Poor technique gets exposed and youngsters are out before they get going.
County cricket is the only breeding ground we have. But standards have dropped. The England and Wales Cricket Board and the county clubs are putting too much weight on scoring quickly. So we should not be surprised that county cricket is not producing quality Test batsmen. If one of the new guys could just stay in for two hours or more, that would be a plus.