Who’s in good nick? – how England’s Test stars have fared in this year’s County Championship

Here’s a quick look at how the 15 men in the squad have fared so far this summer in the County Championship.

Joe Root

5 matches, 291 runs @ 36.37

While the numbers aren’t spectacular, England’s Test captain will enter the two-match Test series on the back of a 199-ball 99 against Glamorgan that rescued Yorkshire’s first innings in front of the Sky cameras at Cardiff. His run of games in the County Championship also saw him become the first man to reach 1,000 first-class runs in 2021, following on from a string of big scores in the winter against Sri Lanka and India.

James Anderson

2 matches, 3 wickets @ 13.33

England’s talisman quick only has 24 overs under his belt this season, with a calf problem followed by the turbulent English weather. After a rain-affected draw against Glamorgan, Anderson was unable to get a bowl against Northants – the four-day game only took in 34.3 overs. Nonetheless, he does have the scalp of Marnus Labuschagne to take into the New Zealand Tests.

James Bracey

6 matches, 479 runs @ 47.90

Bracey – in a Test squad for the first time (no longer a reserve) – has been key in Gloucestershire’s rise to the top of their CC group. He hit at least one half-century in four of his six appearances and made a notable impression at Taunton, where a century was followed up by a match-winning 83* against one of the best bowling attacks on the circuit.

Stuart Broad

4 matches, 19 wickets @ 16.31

Broad has been key in Notts’ red-ball resurgence. Prior to their game against Derbyshire at the end of April, Notts hadn’t won a first-class game since June 2018 – now they have three wins on the bounce, with all of them highly comprehensive.

Rory Burns

7 matches, 554 runs @ 61.55,

Having lost his Test place in the winter, Burns has responded with consistent returns – 10 CC innings this season have seen him cross fifty on seven occasions. Having struggled to convert his starts, he finally brought up three figures for the first time this year last weekend against Middlesex, putting him in good stead to regain his international spot.

Zak Crawley

7 matches, 368 runs @ 33.45

Crawley has been part of an under-performing Kent side who sit at the bottom of their group and have yet to win a game this season. The 23-year-old has put up three half-centuries and while his numbers are by no means startling, his average for the season still stands higher than his overall first-class one.

Ben Foakes

7 matches, 297 runs @ 37.12

After beginning his season with a century against Gloucestershire, Foakes has struggled of late, averaging 10 with the bat across his last five CC matches.

Dan Lawrence

7 matches, 495 runs @ 55

The absence of Ben Stokes means Lawrence has a real shot of keeping his Test place for the New Zealand series, one he’ll enter with some strong numbers behind him. An unbeaten 152 against Derbyshire has been the standout knock, one in which he moved from 129 to 151 in four balls.

Jack Leach

6 matches, 9 wickets @ 34.44

The brilliance of Somerset’s pace cartel has forced Leach to serve as a background player, with few wickets to speak of and 29 overs bowled across his last three matches.

Craig Overton

6 matches, 36 wickets @ 12.86

Currently the leading wicket-taker in the CC, Overton is making a very strong case for a first Test appearance since the 2019 Ashes. Said to be bowling quicker than he has done previously in international cricket, Overton was the Bob Willis Trophy Player of the Year in 2020 and has continued from where he left off last season.

Ollie Pope

7 matches, 555 runs @ 61.66

Only three men have more CC runs so far this year, with Pope following up a double ton against Leicestershire with a century against Hampshire. Helpful batting surfaces at The Oval have played their part, but Pope has made the most of what he’s been offered.

Ollie Robinson

5 matches, 29 wickets @ 14.72

Pressing hard for a Test debut, Robinson has extended his dominance of the county game into 2021, and notably took nine wickets in an innings against Glamorgan. An England appearance is starting to look a likely prospect.

Dom Sibley

3 matches, 74 runs @ 37

A broken finger has disrupted much of Sibley’s season but he made his return to the CC last week against Essex and showed positive signs in his recovery, taking up 120 balls for a first-innings 43.

Olly Stone

4 matches, 13 wickets @ 30.38

Stone, who impressed in his sole outing against India in the winter, has continued to showcase his pace in the CC, notably taking six wickets in a win over reigning champions Essex.

Mark Wood

3 matches, 10 wickets @ 23.30

England have largely opted against using Wood at home in recent years but he has done little wrong so far in this year’s CC, taking wickets while exhibiting his usually impressive speeds.