Despite a rare Test defeat at Lord’s on Sunday, these are exciting times for England’s cricket team. Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss have a strong squad of 14 to choose from as they approach the Old Trafford Test – the second instalment in what is rapidly developing into an enthralling series.
James Anderson, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid have been added to the 11 that lost at the Home Of Cricket last week, in a game where only Chris Woakes shone for the Three Lions. Toby Roland-Jones has been sacrificed to make way for the trio, who have 520 Test victims between them.
While it was chiefly England’s batting that let them down in the First Test, captain Cook and coach Bayliss now have to decide whether to jettison Stokes and Anderson back into the side at the expense of Jake Ball and Steven Finn. They may also choose to replace Moeen Ali with Rashid to add an element of mystery to their bowling attack. Pakistan’s Yasir Shah has been the visitors’ talisman with the ball, tying England in knots in North London. The bad news for Cook and company is that the ball tends to turn at Old Trafford.
An injury doubt hangs over Stuart Broad, the Notts seamer who was back to his metronomic best at Lord’s, in support of the excellent Woakes. Ball, while only taking one wicket, was more impressive than Finn; but there is a strong chance both will miss out and England find room for their spearhead (Anderson) and the explosive Stokes.
Bayliss has previously suggested Stokes could bat at Number Five – effectively playing as a batsman who bowls a bit – in a move which could spell trouble for either Gary Ballance or James Vince in the middle order. Both made semi-impressive 40s as Pakistan dismantled the England order in the fourth innings at Lord’s. Ballance can consider himself unlucky to have received a spinning snorter from Yasir Shah, but Vince flailed unnecessarily at a wide one and edged to slip after some elegant stroke play. It may be the latter who makes way should England choose six bowlers and four all-rounders.
With Joe Root adjusting to his new role at Number Three and Ballance feeling his way back into the side, the added protection of Stokes at Six, Jonny Barstow at Seven, Mooen at Eight and Woakes at Nine would add ballast to the England order. That would make room for only two specialist bowlers – who would be Anderson and Broad, injury-permitting.
However England line-up it is set to be another pulsating Test match in Manchester starting tomorrow morning at 11am, where the hosts will be pulling out all the stops to level the series at 1-1.
Later in the summer, England take on Pakistan in the finale of the Royal London One-Day International Series at The SSE SWALEC in Cardiff. Secure your seats by clicking here.