With England’s test selectors unable to pick any player that was involved in the IPL, there will be a number of unfamiliar faces in the squad to face New Zealand. Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran are among those who were unavailable for the upcoming two matches against the Kiwis.
In their place, England have brought in two uncapped players in the shape of James Bracey and Ollie Robinson. Elsewhere, there is a chance for fringe members of the squad such as Olly Stone and Craig Overton to impress the selectors.
Waiting in the Wings
England will undoubtedly take New Zealand seriously but it’s unlikely that they will look to rest their biggest names when India visit later in the season. Quarantine will be over for all players involved in the Indian Premier League and key men will be getting match practise in the T20 Blast which starts in June.
The hosts have two injury concerns right now. Ben Stokes fractured a finger while playing for Rajasthan Royals at the very start of the Indian Premier League but he is expected to feature for Durham in England’s T20 tournament. The prognosis for Jofra Archer is less clear with the ECB confirming that the fast bowler has now undergone surgery on a long standing elbow problem.
Stokes should, therefore, be back to face India but Archer’s inclusion must be in some doubt. Meanwhile, Bairstow, Buttler, Curran and Woakes should all return to the squad and the selectors may also look to include Moeen Ali following some impressive displays for the Chennai Super Kings.
Indian Schedule
The home side will hope to be at full strength for the visit of India but will England have enough to succeed against a strong touring side? A busy schedule is in store with five tests listed, starting at Trent Bridge on August 5th.
It promises to be a hard fought series and the sportsbooks are having difficulty splitting the two sides. Early betting markets from Asiabet show England as narrow favourites but it’s very close with India only just behind.
Both teams have international cricket to play between now and the start of that test series and the market has an opportunity to adjust. Asiabet will react to results involving England and India and those odds will be updated. At the same time, news and opinion pieces will be available and anyone wanting to take their interest further will find a range of sportsbooks with links to offers and promotions.
It should certainly be an entertaining series for the neutral but who will come out on top?
Dress Rehearsal
England have key men set to return but there are a number of players looking to shine in the New Zealand series and to maybe gatecrash the squad for India. The selectors have been looking at James Bracey for some months and it’s thought that he has the patience and temperament to bat for long periods of time in test cricket.
The squad is blessed with an abundance of talented wicket keepers but an injury to Ben Foakes means that Bracey will now take the gloves. With Rory Burns, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley all lacking consistency at test level, there could well be a vacancy for James Bracey to fill at the top of the order.
Ollie Robinson is also set to win his first test cap against the Kiwis and this is another man who has been under the selectors’ radar. He’s tall and that height can generate extra bounce which could be a factor when England tour Australia later in the year. Another bowler looking to make that Ashes squad is Craig Overton. He’s struggled in brief appearances at test level but has improved greatly in the county championship this season and will be anxious to take what may be his last chance.
Whoever makes the cut for England’s squad to face India, they will have a tough challenge against some of the best players in world cricket. Led by Virat Kohli, the skipper is backed by a strong team including Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.