England’s next phase of regeneration starts with Sri Lanka Test squad

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jun/04/england-sri-lanka-test-squad-openers-alastair-cook

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It seems an eternity since the last, dismal (from an England standpoint) Test match in Sydney and the landscape has changed. The director of cricket has gone, to be replaced by a new head coach; so has his heir apparent and before that the managing director of the whole England shebang. Departed as well from the senior team: the batting and fielding coaches, along with the spin bowling consultant. And, of course, Kevin Pietersen. Quite a clear-out then.

Now, in a week’s time at Lord’s in the first Test against Sri Lanka, begins the next phase of the regeneration of a team that had reached the pinnacle and then fallen into the abyss with little time to admire the view. If changes have been within the periphery of the team, there will also be ones in the team itself, with stalwarts gone (Jonathan Trott almost certainly permanently, Graeme Swann and Pietersen definitely), and others proving not sufficiently up to the mark.

In all probability, 10 of the 18 players fielded by England in that Ashes series whitewash will not feature now, with all but a few never to do so again. New caps will be introduced: in all likelihood at the top of the order, in the middle order, in the seam bowling and possibly with the gloves as well. Those who demanded change are certainly going to get it.

The opener who will accompany Alastair Cook was still open to debate even as the selectors were due to meet. On the one hand there was Michael Carberry, who showed courage and diligence in Australia without ever quite capitalising on the starts he gave himself. Then there comes those who might be seen as a replacement should it be decided that the chance has come and gone for him. These would include Sam Robson, much touted earlier in the season following a prolific start and an excellent Lions report; Nick Compton, who has two Test match hundreds in that position before falling out somewhere along the line; and finally Adam Lyth, the Yorkshire left-hander, who hit a double century against Northamptonshire this week.

Finally, there is the idea that Joe Root could move back up to the position he was supposed to occupy when the England team arrived in Perth at the start of the last tour.

Robson, though, does look a beautifully balanced player, still on the crease without being static, and he has the temperament and technique for the long haul. If he has gone off the boil a little in the past few weeks, then he still looks favourite.

Were Root to open, though, Compton’s credentials could come into play, with him at three, allowing Ian Bell to go in at four. If not, then Root goes three (there is some sense in splitting the two most experienced players).

Gary Ballance then goes at five, although there will be talk, too, of Eoin Morgan (yet to do enough to justify a recall, surely?), James Taylor or Samit Patel, batting beautifully this season. Patel, though, does come into the mix for the next position, which is contingent on the retirement of Swann.

There is no one who can come close to replicating Swann’s ubiquitous role, so England’s whole strategy, and presumably the pitches on which they play, will change to reflect that. The best and most accomplished spinner available is Monty Panesar but the chances are he will remain a tourist only, and instead they will look to Moeen Ali.

Here there is a difference with Patel because those who look closely at these things have a high regard for Ali’s off‑spin (he is a proper bowler rather than a part-timer such as, say, Root) as well as his batting. As a side issue, for all his run scoring, there still appears to be doubt about Patel’s commitment to achieving and maintaining even a minimum acceptable level of fitness. There is a belief that these things do not matter but the fact is they do. The person best qualified to provide information on that is Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire head coach, who is now also a selector.

The wicketkeeping place will go to Matt Prior, if he is deemed fully fit after only a single county fixture. If not, then selecting Jos Buttler now would, apart from any massive promise he has in any case, create a lot of goodwill. James Foster, an outstanding cricketer, has not played a Test match since 2002-03 and is unlikely to resume that career, however much aesthetes might like it.

There are still doubts about the match fitness of Ben Stokes, although he will surely be selected in the squad, but Chris Woakes may be included as a similar cricketer to do the Nursery End donkey work with the ball. Chris Jordan is expected to join Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad as the front-line pace trio (and take Swann’s place at second slip when not bowling), although Liam Plunkett, rapid when he bowls short although a bit floaty when not, could be included in the party as an alternative to Woakes in order to rattle a few bones.

Possible squad AN Cook (capt), SD Robson, JE Root, IR Bell, GS Ballance, Moeen Ali, MJ Prior/JC Buttler, BA Stokes, CJ Jordan, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, CR Woakes, LE Plunkett.