Stability returns to England squad as they head to NZ

Following a period of relative instability, the England selectors reverted to form in making few changes to the side that toured India ahead of the forthcoming three-match Test series in New Zealand.  

Nineteen players were called up to India at one point or another, and that group has been culled back to the normal fifteen. Stuart Meaker and James Tredwell, brought out as cover, miss out whilst Eoin Morgan, who also didn’t play is dropped. Samit Patel, who is yet to play a Test outside of Asia, has also been excluded. None of these should be viewed as surprise moves. In a slightly less anticipated move Tim Bresnan was omitted, with Chris Woakes, who has been playing first-class cricket in New Zealand, called up. Although Bresnan’s place ought to have been in doubt anyway, following an average year since returning from elbow surgery, the selectors insist that the reason for his absence is to allow further assessment of the elbow.

From the XI that played in Nagpur, nine can expect to start at Dunedin. All being well the returning Steven Finn and Stuart Broad are likely to replace Bresnan and the unlucky Monty Panesar. Some would question Broad’s return after a poor show in recent Tests, but it was only 12 months ago that he starred in the toughest of conditions against Pakistan, and this series should be a perfect opportunity to rediscover his rhythm – if he can make himself fit. Graham Onions will again be unfortunate to be on the sidelines and if injuries occur will likely be the man to step up in conditions more likely to suit him than in India.

There may also be some debate over the opening position vacated by Andrew Strauss at the end of last summer. Nick Compton’s contributions were critical in setting a platform for the middle-order before Christmas, but Michael Vaughan believes that Joe Root should be promoted. That move would, however, be extremely harsh on Compton who should get the chance to prove that he’s more than just a blocker. Meanwhile, Root seems to be relishing his role in the England middle-order – a role which he might just be able to nail down better than Morgan or Jonny Bairstow have.

The adjustments to the one-day squad, curiously named some time back but now seemingly ripped up and selected again, are perhaps more significant.

The decision to axe Craig Kieswetter is likely to mark the end of the wicket-keeper’s international career: although he is still just 25, there are a number of younger batsman who ‘keep just as well as him. Whilst he has had his moments, this England side don’t like mediocrity and that is what has ultimately cost him. His immediate successor at number six will be either Bairstow or Kieswetter’s Somerset team-mate Jos Buttler. Although Bairstow has more ‘keeping experience in the professional game, Buttler has looked perfectly adept when given the gloves thus far. A shoot-out in the warm-up games and T20s may eventually dictate who takes up what is something of a poisoned chalice.

In another change Jade Dernbach will not be going to New Zealand. The Surrey paceman has struggled with control so far in his international career, and probably needs to spend some time with his county. James Harris and Chris Woakes have been called up, despite the fact that neither of them generally excel with the white ball.  However, as swing bowlers they might enjoy New Zealand, and can be no worse than Dernbach, who is the most expensive ODI bowler of all time.

In both formats of the game England will be big favourites. England’s ODI XI will be stronger than that South Africa fielded against New Zealand, and conditions will suit England’s gameplan more than they did in India. Meanwhile, there is a clear gap in quality in the long form of the game, where New Zealand lack depth, quality and confidence.

England go with pragmatism over consistency

England selection announcements have been rather predictable in recent years, but the squad today announced for the tour of India was eagerly awaited, and did not disappoint with a number of surprises.

The omission of Kevin Pietersen grabbed the headlines, but in reality it appears that the issues between Pietersen, his England teammates and the team management are some distance from being resolved. It is believed that some members of the team are opposed to his potential return, and it has also been reported that Pietersen himself still feels that he has been treated unfairly. Perhaps the issue would be solved most easily were the ball to be put firmly in Pietersen’s court - allow him to apologise properly to everybody, including the fans, and drop his supposed demands for an investigation into the alleged involvement of England players in a parody Twitter account, before kissing and making up.

The selection of an opener to replace the retired Andrew Strauss must have been a close call, and in the end it has been decided to take both young Yorkshire opener Joe Root and Somerset’s Nick Compton.

Root is an impressive character, and clearly an extremely talented cricketer. But there must be a worry that this is a year too early for him. 2012 was the first season in which he has been a heavy scorer for his county, and his runs came in Division Two of the Championship. It could be argued that, in the absence of both Strauss and Pietersen, England need to find a Michael Hussey instead  - a batsman who can come into international cricket late, but hit the ground running straight away. Compton, who, after struggling to live up to the family name early in his career has been the best England-available batsman in Division One for the last two seasons, would be the prime candidate to offer that. Michael Carberry, who played a Test in Bangladesh in 2010, can count himself unlucky to have missed out, but in the end simply didn’t bang the door down enough this season. Root and Compton will surely both get opportunities in the warm-up matches, and it might eventually be those that determine who walks out with Alastair Cook at Ahmedabad.

The middle order places are also intriguing. Eoin Morgan has struggled for runs in first-class cricket, and did nothing of note in the small number of Championship games he played for Middlesex this year. However, England like what they see in one-day cricket and he is the closest they can get to an X-Factor player who can turn a game on its head in the absence of Pietersen. Although the tour of the UAE early this year would suggest the contrary, Morgan has a game which should be well suited to Asian conditions. He hits spin well and plays off the front foot. There may, however, still be questions about how he’ll cope defensively against Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.

The inclusion of Morgan would appear to have come at the expense of two men who featured in the Test series against South Africa.

Ravi Bopara’s form crisis has been well documented, but he’s played only one Test in 2012, and, having been earmarked for a place this year before injury and then personal issues struck, is arguably due a proper shot at the five-day game. Nevertheless, in his current state of mind it would be a major risk to take him in a squad devoid of senior batsmen.

James Taylor can arguably count himself more hard done by. The Nottinghamshire batsman has long been earmarked as a future Test star and didn’t disgrace himself on debut at Headingley, where his supporting innings of 34 was praised. His omission flies in the face of England’s much vaunted consistency of selection, but perhaps he has been an unlucky victim of KP-gate and the retirement of Strauss - with Jonny Bairstow demanding a place, and Root picked at the top of the order, England have two young batsmen in the squad and a third would perhaps be a risk too far.

Geoff Miller and his fellow selectors are right to pick five seamers and three spinners. Its hard to argue with the five pace options on the plane, whilst it is a relief to see that rumours of Monty Panesar’s exclusion have proved unfounded. But the selection of Samit Patel is baffling. Patel failed to register a Championship hundred this summer, took only 14 wickets at 38 and is hardly Jonty Rhodes in the field. Yet it would appear that England still fancy him at number seven to supposedly balance the side in Asian conditions - a role he failed to fulfill satisfactorily in Sri Lanka. Leaving out Patel would have opened up a place for James Tredwell, who never disappoints for England, and could have come in handy should Swann have to pull out injured before a match where England want to play two spinners.

Looking forward to the series itself, India will start as favourites but the visitors should not be written off. England proved themselves to be a vastly superior side in England last summer and, whilst the sub-continent presents a different set of challenges, the turnaround should not be as stark as to make India nailed on victors. The first line of attack should be with the quick men - with the possible exception of an occasional pitch offering excessive turn Anderson, Broad and Finn should all play as India’s batsmen play spin exceptionally well. If the bowlers do their job, as they did last winter, then a lot will depend on the batsmen. The line-up is arguably the most inexperienced taken on tour since the visit to South Africa at the turn of the century. Nevertheless, India can be a good place to start for inexperienced batsmen and in Cook, Trott, Bell and not forgetting Matt Prior, we still have four of the best in the world.