With the recent, short, two test series against New Zealand over and deemed a qualified success, all eyes are looking forward to the 8th July when England and Australia meet in the first Ashes test of the summer. Lots of talk in the media recently has been about the Australian side and how they are due numerous headaches on who to pick in the top order and which of their seamers will cause England the most problems throughout the series. However, England already problems of their own.
The Top Order:
After his recent return to form, Alastair Cook’s critics have vanished and the England Test Skipper looks set for a third term at the helm against Michael Clarke and the old enemy.After his maiden test hundred, Adam Lyth looks to have done enough to at least secure a spot in the first test himself. The big issue in the batting department is what will happen to Gary Ballance.
After a dreadful series in which he was bullied by Trent Boult and his left arm swing bowling, does Ballance have the bottle to face up against Mitchell’s Starc and Johnson, both of whom have been running rampant in the last 18 months or so? His natural technique is something highlighted by the bowling attacks in world cricket, after his excellent start to his career last summer against India. He likes to stay back and play the ball under his nose but with the ball swinging around it’s very dangerous to play back as it brings LBW and bowled into the situation, as he showed earlier this year.
If Ballance were to drop out of the team who would come in? Ian Bell has had success before at three, but with his recent lack of form do England want him in the firing line? Moeen Ali has been wasted down at eight and maybe he could be the one to step up the order and make the runs needed to take the pressure off the middle order, although Ali has been identified as someone who struggles against the short ball, especially when aimed at him. With all these factors in mind Ballance should drop out of the side for the first test and Bell should be the man to step to play his way back into form again.
The Middle Order:
If Bell is going to move up to three, then someone needs to come in at four to replace him. Root could move up a spot, but England are keen to keep their golden boy right where he is so that he can hopefully continue his form from the test and one-day series. Ali could move up to four, but the same would apply as if he were batting three; the threat of the short ball always looming. Someone on the outside, such as James Taylor, could come in and do a good job if required. Taylor has been around the county circuit for years and wouldn’t be wet behind the ears if he did have to come in and bat four for England.
Five and six are looking very solid at the moment. Stokes and Buttler seem to have a very good understanding of one another and realise their roles are to play positive, counter-attacking cricket and push England up to scores of 400, 450 etc. so they should stay the same, as long as they stay fit. England are certainly looking to keep Ali in the side and make sure he is utilised. For that to happen, he should be batting at number four. This would allow the solid middle order of Root, Stokes and Buttler to stay the same and continue to do what they do.
Bowlers:
Apart from Cook, Anderson is the first name on the team sheet and England’s leading wicket taker will be gunning for Australian wickets all summer. Broad may not be as assured as Anderson yet, but he still should’ve done enough to be in the side. With these two bound to be picked it leaves just two spots in the side. Mark Wood has made a huge impact early on in his career and his extra pace is something England would desire against the Australian batsman.
The final spot would be something of a bonus spot, which could be picked based on conditions or on how the pitch plays. With Ali as the spinner and Stokes as the fourth seamer, England could pick and choose whomever they wanted each test. England could pick from Chris Jordan or Chris Woakes if they wanted another swing bowler, Steven Finn if they wanted out-and-out pace if they wanted to back up Mark Wood or even James Tredwell if they wanted to play another spinner.
This would give England a nice balance to the side and it wouldn’t make them as predictable as they have been in the past. Australia wouldn’t be able to do major research on players like Tredwell and Woakes as they haven’t faced either of them in the long-term. As difficult as it would be to pick a full bowling attack for Cardiff, Anderson, Broad and Wood would be strong line-up, along with Woakes, if he is fit enough, for the first test as he adds the extra level of batting that the other options don’t have.
Whatever team is picked the Ashes is looking likely to be one of the most anticipated of all time, with both teams having many selection issues because players are pushing hard for spots and with both teams having good depth.
