England have announced their squad for the first Test against India, with Jacob Bethell among those back in the fold.
Here are the main talking points from the group selected.
Bethell-Crawley-Pope dilemma looms large
There are no clues in the squad announcement as to which way England will go on this one, and the main upshot of the Stokes vs the media farrago that bookended the Zimbabwe Test is that Bethell is not guaranteed to return, with all three of him, Crawley and Pope firmly in the frame. Now they have to make a decision, and likely stick with it for at least the first couple of Tests against India. It could be an era-defining call.
Jamie Overton can be more than a one-Test wonder
The early days of Bazball were so heady and raucous that something as mad as a debutant No.8 smashing 97 to haul England up from 55-6 against the World Test Champions went weirdly under the radar. Jamie Overton hasn’t played a Test since, at times selected for England as a specialist batting option in white-ball cricket as injuries stopped him from bowling. Now, a broken little finger aside, he’s back fully fit, bowling long, fast spells for Surrey in the County Championship and taking three wickets in the first West Indies ODI even with a shattered digit. After that 2022 false start, he’s back firmly in contention for the main event.
A dark day for the Potts fan club
It’s hard not to feel for Matthew Potts, a key bowler in England’s first few games under Brendon McCullum who has rarely let his side down, and yet has been unable to force a first-team spot in any format, slipping down the pecking order through little fault of his own. He brought a Kookaburra-struck pigeon back to life in the third ODI against West Indies and has a growing group of supporters among the England faithful, but the sense is growing that there is something he lacks that the team management can’t get past. Seeing even Sam Cook, in a similar non-rapid mould, move ahead of him in the queue will hurt. He has the attitude not to let it get him down.
Sam Cook stuck with despite underwhelming debut
There was a fear, after Sam Cook’s Test debut had come and gone, that that was the only chance he was going to get. More established, quicker bowlers were due to return for the India series, and without a statement haul, it was easy to wonder if he might slip out of the set-up after one game, having taking five-wicket haul after five-wicket haul to force his way in. He deserves another go to show that consistency and nous have their place in England’s new Test world, though a place in the squad is no guarantee he’ll get on the field.
Woakes, England’s survivor, offers much-needed ballast and balance
You can’t count out Chris Woakes, whose storied England career is set to tick over into its 15th year, much of which time he’s had to battle for recognition and to fight perception, the good days numerous but rarely with a sense of permanence. Now 36, he returned to Warwickshire action after an injury-hit start to the season with twin three-fors. Some of his proudest moments have come against India, including his sole Test century. Whether a fruitful summer can translate into a last crack at Australia is another question.
Atkinson absence shows how fickle planning can be
The passing of the torch could hardly have been scripted better, James Anderson playing his last Test as Gus Atkinson enjoyed a record-breaking Test debut. The start extended across the summer and into the winter, a new attack leader taking over from the old seamlessly. Then, a popped hamstring ruled him out of what would have been his biggest Test yet, a series opener against India. They have been burned before, and developed the reserves to cover for any absences, but it’s still a reminder of how quickly things can change.
On the plus side, even after attending the IPL contrary to the ECB's original plan, the dream of a Jofra Archer Test return remains alive. He is set to play for the Sussex twos and then the Sussex ones with a comeback for the second Test still possible. It will be a joy to watch.
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