England have decided to persist with Ollie Pope at the first drop for the first Test against India in Leeds on June 20. Despite going through a slump in form, Pope managed to score two fifties at four down in New Zealand, which tilted the conversation of the No. 3 position more in Jacob Bethell’s favour.
Bethell, who made his debut against New Zealand in December, scored three fifties, including a 96 and a 76, during the three-match series. He batted one down, which had pushed Pope to No. 6 while also taking on the wicketkeeping duties in the absence of England’s regular keeper, Jamie Smith, and his stand-in Jordan Cox.
This created a selection headache for England, but Brendon McCullum, England’s red-ball coach, was happy to have it. Rob Key, ECB’s managing director, also said it was a win for them to have two ‘brilliant options’ for one spot. However, it’s Pope who will make the cut for England in the series opener.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will assume their opening roles once again. Crawley broke his 27-innings streak of going without a century in the last game against Zimbabwe, where he scored 124 runs.
In the bowling lineup, England have opted to go with three specialist pacers and a spinner. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse will bowl the new ball in tandem, while Josh Tongue will complement them, with Ben Stokes capping the lineup. Shoaib Bashir has been retained after he bagged nine wickets against Zimbabwe last month.
But more than anything, Carse’s role with the new ball gathers curiosity. The right-arm pacer, who made his debut against Pakistan last month, hasn’t ever had a go with the fresh cherry. However, his performance against both Pakistan and New Zealand, in England’s recent away tours, inspires management’s confidence in him.
“Headingley is an unbelievable ground,” Brydon Carse said ahead of his first home Test. “I’ve played a bit of white-ball cricket here over the last couple of years… but to be able to play a home Test against India is going to be pretty exciting and I cannot wait to get going.”
“There has been a little bit of discussion around that. I’m relishing that opportunity, if that is what it is,” he said of being given the new-ball role. “I opened the bowling during the one-day series [against West Indies] and felt comfortable and confident.”
With Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood both nursing injuries, and James Anderson and Stuart Broad watching from afar post-retirement, this young bowling attack is the best England could gather. India, though, is well aware of the damage even this lineup can pose in England’s seam-friendly conditions.
“It feels so good,” India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant said, happy it wasn’t the Anderson-Broad pair awaiting them with a new ball. “But… they have enough ammunition as an England bowling line-up.”
England’s XI for the first Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
