Selection headaches for England ahead of the Ashes | How do Jonny Bairstow and Jofra Archer fit into the side? | Cricket News

With England’s Test season ending in disappointing but impressive fashion, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum now turn their attention to the summer, punctuated by the Ashes in June and July.

After winning the first Test in New Zealand in convincing fashion, England’s six-match winning streak ended in Wellington as the Neil Wagner-inspired Black Caps secured a dramatic one-run victory on the final day.

On the red ball side, England next play in June, when they face Ireland in a one-off home Test, followed by a small affair of the Ashes, with the first Test since June 16 in Edgbaston, staying at Sky Sports Cricket and Major Events.

Since Stokes and McCullum took the reins, England have an 83 per cent winning record, losing just twice, against South Africa in the summer and New Zealand on Tuesday.

Australia have dominated the Ashes in recent years and the last time England faced Australia in the Ashes, Joe Root led a disappointing side and limped away to a 4-0 defeat.

The England team looked embarrassed, lacked tactics, and looked defeated before the ball was even kicked. But in Stokes, he is a tiger, tactical-revolutionary and seemingly capable of beating any side in the world.

This year’s Ashes could be one of the most exciting and close of the year but England have a lot to consider before the first ball is bowled in June.

Foakes to drop to Bairstow?

There are few unknowns in winter for England. Despite only losing one Test, there are questions about how ‘Bazball’ will translate to away conditions.

The question was answered emphatically, with a series of whitewashes in Pakistan. One of the stars of the winter was Harry Brook, who arrived in South Africa’s final Test after Jonny Bairstow suffered a “freak” injury on the golf course.

Brook has not looked back since and announced himself as a contender for England’s next great Test batsman, notching over 800 runs in nine matches with all the attacking verve that epitomizes this new and transformed England side.

Brook is indispensable in the side so that drops out for Bairstow to return?

There seemed to be two obvious choices: Ben Foakes or one of the openers – Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.

Bairstow replacing Foakes would be an obvious change. The Yorkshireman will pick up the gloves and bat in his preferred position at number seven.

But in Foakes, England has one of the premier wicketkeepers in world cricket, the Surrey man has undeniably proven his value behind the stumps, with Sir Alastair Cook describing him as “Mr Reliable” during the New Zealand series.

Removing Michael Bracewell in the second Test was due to Foakes’ quick thinking and led to New Zealand’s collapse. Sticking to Foakes will be tough and while it may be an obvious change to fit Bairstow in the side, this English side is anything but obvious.

Crawley let loose, but can Bairstow open?

Duckett has looked confident at the top of the order and has impressed enough on his return to the Test side to ensure he remains in the side, especially against spin, which could prove vital given Nathan Lyon’s importance in Australia’s current side.

Crawley have been consistently supported by England, but their returns have been mediocre and their place in the side must be on the line.

However, Bairstow has never opened in red ball cricket and despite his success in the top order on the white ball side, opening the batting in Test cricket is a different skill set.

Jason Roy’s failed experiment in the top order in the 2019 Ashes is a reminder of how different openings are in Test cricket compared to the shorter formats.

England have another option if they choose to retain Foakes and drop Crawley. Brook has opened for Yorkshire and with Stokes’ troublesome knee preventing him from bowling as much as he might want to, can he promote himself at the top of the order?

He opened once for England, when he joined Jos Buttler in the second innings against the West Indies in 2020, when he scored 78 runs in 57 balls, as England won by 113 runs at Old Trafford.

Another option is to nudge everyone up a place, with Ollie Pope opening, Joe Root at three, Brook at four, Bairstow at five and Stokes staying at six.

The option may be troubling, considering that Pope has settled at number three and the fact that he has never opened the batting in international cricket.

Promoting Root to the top of the order may have been a wiser choice, but then again, he has performed well at number four without the burden of captaincy.

England will want to avoid any major disruptions to the batting order that has proven to be successful in recent months and it is more likely that Bairstow will come in one of Foakes and Crawley, with the latter apparently the more obvious choice.

What about Archer, Wood and Ahmed?

England were not only aggressive with the bat but also with the ball, with Stokes spreading the pitch and encouraging the bowlers to keep bowling wicket-taking balls.

Ollie Robinson, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have consistently looked threatening, especially on the flat, barren surface in Pakistan, while Jack Leach is looking more and more like a front-line spinner.

When one of the front three bowlers was out last summer, Matthew Potts and Jamie Overton stepped in and impressed.

But Stokes has a dizzying selection of bowling line-ups heading into the Ashes, with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood knocking on the door.

The England captain has indicated that he wants Archer to be “fit and firing” for the Ashes, as the fast bowler continues to return from injury with the white ball side.

Robinson’s performances since his return to the side against South Africa have given him confidence for the Ashes, so could Stokes use Archer and Wood’s return as an opportunity to play the seamers?

Anderson and Broad have been stalwarts for England but are approaching the twilight of their careers, with Anderson turning 41 and Broad 37 by the time the Ashes roll around.

It might be smart for Stokes to keep his bowlers fresh, especially considering his ongoing problems with his knee (more on that later).

Either way, it hasn’t been dizzying for Stokes over the summer.

And what about Rehan Ahmed? The teenage leg-spinner was impressive in the last Test against Pakistan but was left out in New Zealand.

England needed two spinners in Pakistan, so it was the perfect opportunity to give Ahmed a taste of international cricket.

This summer’s Ashes may be too soon for Ahmed, but he could be a useful member of the squad if Leach is injured.

Is Stokes’ fitness a concern?

One of the major concerns after the New Zealand series is Stokes’ fitness.

The England captain has been dealing with a knee problem for some time, but it was seen mainly in New Zealand.

Stokes was unable to show his best with bat or ball against the Kiwis, bowling just nine overs in two matches and clutching his knee as England chased victory in Wellington.

He scored just 110 runs in two matches and was clearly feeling the effects of a grueling winter schedule.

England fans will be worried about the fitness of Stokes, who has made it clear that he will complete his £1.6m IPL deal with Chennai Super Kings.

“I will not lie, it has been very frustrating to know that something has held me back from performing as I would like, especially as a fourth seamer,” he said after the second Test.

“I’m not a surgeon, but I know if I’ve bowled a bit it doesn’t feel good. I have four months now to get it even better before the Ashes and I’ll do everything. I can.

“I’ve been in different situations where I’ve been good, I’ve been in bad situations, but if anything, I’m going to take a commitment to do better now. I’ve been working. hard with physio and medical, but once there is a game, it is very difficult to finish all the knees.

“I am going to IPL, don’t worry. I have spoken to Flem (CSK coach Stephen Fleming) and he knows about my current physical condition.”

The one-off match against Ireland from Thursday June 1 could prove useful as a chance for England to experiment with their batting order and bowling line-up, but it will be a huge blow if Stokes is not fully fit when Australia come knocking.

Stokes and McCullum have turned England’s men’s Test side around since taking over but with the biggest test on the horizon, there is plenty for the pair to mull over between now and June.

Watch the Ashes live on this summer’s Sky Sports and Cricket Premier Event, from Thursday 16 June at Edgbaston. Stream your greatest moments NOW or Get Sky Sports.