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Ian Ward and Michael Atherton will consider the England squad rotation ahead of their Test series against India
Ian Ward and Michael Atherton will consider the England squad rotation ahead of their Test series against India
England national selector Ed Smith has defended their ‘pragmatic’ rotation policy ahead of next month’s four-game series in India, and Michael Atherton believes flexibility will be crucial ahead of the 2021 tough schedule .
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return after a break for the two-game consecutive series in Sri Lanka, while Rory Burns will also appear, following the birth of his first child .
The trio return to be part of England’s 16-man squad for the two opening test matches in Chennai, although Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood will sit the first leg of the tour.
I think it is the right decision. You want to play as much as you can but with Covid bubbles I think it is the right decision to let mental players get back and see family. That’s good [the selectors] breaking up the winter and letting people refresh so when they are back they make a raid to go.
Mark Wood has been taking a break for India’s first two exams
“There are a couple of questions for the selectors – the workload is just one; 17 test matches, plus T20 in the world and England white-ball cricket,” Atherton said. Sky Sports.
“Secondly we at Covid, players are in biosecurity bubbles, and then you have to include things like the IPL as well.
“There is a lot of cricket for England and they pointed it out before this Test match series in Sri Lanka, that the players are multi-faceted – especially those who play redball and white ball over form – to be provided resting blocks, regardless of the form.
“Jonny Bairstow may get 150 in this game, but he was told: ‘No, you’re going to rest for the first two trials in India.'”
Evidence of England’s circulation policy has already been evidenced in the Sri Lanka series, with James Anderson replacing Stuart Broad for the second Test in Galle.
Jonny Bairstow will sit out the two opening trials in India, despite influencing a return to the English redfield side
With the demands of test cricket in these unique situations, along with Australia’s Ashes series on the horizon, Atherton believes that flexibility potential will be crucial in England’s fortunes.
“The other thing Ed [Smith] the point is that modern tours are very different. It’s not like they’re traveling on the boat, it’s not like they’ve been there for six months. They are kind of nipping in and nipping out.
“The players are also under moderate contracts. They’re not like they probably were in our day where you were paid a tour fee, and it was a special set of players.
“They’re under contract all year round, so why not let in and let go according to the needs of the team and crucially, the needs of the players?”
Jos Buttler was introduced for the first Test in Chennai on February 5, although he will rest for the final three games of the series, before returning for the white ball series in March.
Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler *, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
* Buttler to fly home after first test
Despite not appearing in Sri Lanka after a positive test for Covid-19 earlier this month, Moeen Alli is expected to take a break at some point in the coming months, with Joe Root and Chris Woakes – key members of the English ODI founding.
“We’re going to be pragmatic,” England’s national selector Smith said Thursday.
“If you keep people in bubbles unchanged for three months – January, February, March – and expect them to play every game in all their forms, they will not be able to perform at the same level. best and England will be ruined as a result.
“So it’s totally a pragmatic point that we want to reassure people. We’ve discussed it with the players and we’ve got the understanding – they see it for the benefit of the players. as well as the benefit of England.
Jos Buttler returns home after the first Test against India in Chennai
“We need to be flexible to do what is best for them, and for England, and that is what we will always do.
“Of course, if we think we need to go back to a decision, we will return completely, but the principle is anchored in flexibility and pragmatism. It is about making the right thing for the player and the right thing for the team. “
The time around Bairstow’s rotation out of the squad was questioned, especially with Buttler ready to return home after the first Test in Chennai.
Ben Foakes will take the gloves for the first time since February 2019 for the second Test, leaving James Bracey uncapped and Ollie Pope potentially in reserve, though Atherton does not consider him a cause of undue concern.
James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Amar Virdi (Surrey)
“You’d think there’s a bit of flexibility too, though. If they arrive in India, Buttler comes home and then Foakes is injured in good time, why not take Bairstow out?
“There also needs to be some in-house flexibility and a little instability, but the electorate has shown beforehand – we need to reassure those players.
“You can’t expect the same XI to play every game England play, regardless of format or conditions.”
Watch the second day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England live on Sky Sports Cricket from 4am on Friday, with cross-country commentary and in-play video clips on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.