Ten Tests in a row, starting with five at home to India and followed by the Ashes, is what England cricket fans have been craving — the chance to go head-to-head with the world’s other powerhouse teams. The jury on “Bazball” — England’s own brand of attacking, guilt-free cricket that has defined the past three years — is out, but after these legacy-defining series no one will be left in doubt.
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have performed a social experiment with English cricket. Assuming responsibility for a team with one win in 17 Test matches, the head coach and captain lifted the pressure by telling the team that couldn’t win that it didn’t matter if they lost. It was a psychological trick designed to get the best out of a forlorn but talented group. And it worked. In Stokes’s and McCullum’s first 12 matches, they won 11. Every selection decision paid off and every hunch was proven right. Not least by giving 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed a debut in Karachi, who, with only three first-class matches to his name, became England’s youngest ever Test cricketer and took a five-wicket haul.
England fans were giddy; the rest of the world nauseous. This was strait-laced England, the team that existed to bore, disappoint and lose, who were instead high on their own supply and breaking records. But then things began to change. The home Ashes in 2023 finished in a two-all draw, before England were thrashed 4-1 away to India in early 2024. Just as quickly as the goodwill had been earned, it started to fade.
When England were winning, McCullum and Stokes’s relentless positivity and “be where your feet are” mantra came across as wise. But when they were losing, it came across as weird. And for many, just plain annoying. The result is that entering this summer both McCullum, inset below, and Stokes have spoken about the need for a greater “humility” within the England team. On the one hand, it is a sensible move. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that in an age where fans often crave more personality from its stars, England fans got more — and some decided they didn’t like it.
Ahead of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May, which England won by an innings and 45 runs, McCullum said the team are ready to “shoot for the stars” in a seminal year. Gone is the aloofness of this team where they would pretend one thing to kid themselves into another. Immense loyalty is displayed to players until the moment the rope runs out and a swift end is executed. Just ask Ben Foakes, Ollie Robinson and, of course, James Anderson.
As such, the fourth summer of Bazball starts with a steelier look. This England team have always said they are primarily in the entertainment business — and now with India in town, it’s showtime.
Pope wins argument for now
England had one major selection decision to make and decided to stick rather than twist. The choice of who bats at No3 came down to the incumbent, Ollie Pope, or the uber-talented Jacob Bethell. Pope got the nod, but not without a reminder that the place may not be his for keeps.
In England’s last match, with Bethell away at the IPL, Pope made 171 from No3, his seventh Test century in a position where he averages 43. Compare this record to the 21-year-old Bethell, who is yet to make a professional century, and it appeared to be a no-brainer. But that doesn’t take into account the allure of a player considered a generational talent.
With three Test caps, which all came in New Zealand over the winter, Bethell batted at No3 with Pope deputising as wicketkeeper and batting at No6. It was a potentially fatal decision by Pope. The new kid did his job and did it well. Three matches brought three half-centuries and cooing from all who laid eyes on the Barbados-born left-hander.
Bethell’s fine start to life means that although the shirt remains in Pope’s possession for now - and Stokes has said it would have been a ‘remarkable’ decision to drop his vice-captain - two lean Tests may prompt England to make the swap. Before Pope’s century against Zimbabwe, his form had been substandard, reaching 30 only three times in his previous 17 innings. What’s more his record against India (average 24.60) and Australia (average 15.7) is poor. There was one way England could have picked both, which was to leave out Shoaib Bashir and go without a specialist spinner, which England sources had not ruled out. It always seemed unlikely, however. With spin playing less of a role in recent years in Australia, where pitches are more seam conducive, it is a team balance that may be an option for the Ashes later this year.
Fast bowling crisis
With Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Olly Stone all injured, England’s seamers pick themselves. Chris Woakes is due to be supported by Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue, with Stokes declaring himself fit to play a full role as the fourth seamer. It is an attack that isn’t without risk, with all four bowlers recently back from injury.
Surrey’s Jamie Overton, who made one Test appearance in 2022, and Essex’s Sam Cook, who debuted against Zimbabwe, are also in the squad while Matthew Potts has missed out entirely.
England are hopeful that Archer will make his long-awaited return to Test cricket in the Third Test at Lord’s after recovering from a thumb injury. It is hoped Atkinson will return at some point over the series, with the fast bowler ruled out of only the first Test with a hamstring injury.
Archer hasn’t played a red-ball match in over four years and England will be cautious with his fitness as they look to get both him and Mark Wood, who could miss the Test summer following knee surgery, to the Ashes.
With regard to India, all eyes are on Jasprit Bumrah. Arguably the best fast bowler in the world, Bumrah is making his return from a stress fracture in his lower back and India do not expect him to play all five Tests. India are still without Mohammed Shami whose injury woes continue, but do boast Mohammed Siraj and the uncapped left-armer Arshdeep Singh, who has been tipped to perform by a number of high-profile pundits including Aussie legend Ricky Ponting.
India’s new generation
In the past six months, India have lost three giants after the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, while a new-look side has taken shape under head coach Gautam Gambhir. If Kohli’s retirement was the most newsworthy, it was Sharma’s that had the biggest impact as it paved the way for the 25-year-old Shubman Gill to take over the captaincy.
Gill has long been anointed as the next King of Indian cricket, although he has yet to nail the format outside of India and averages just 14 from the three matches he has played in England.
Nevertheless, it is possible he will assume the double responsibility of not only the captaincy, but taking on the No4 position vacated by Kohli.
Elsewhere, Bumrah is the undisputed star of the show, with his fitness likely to be crucial to the outcome of the series. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, now free of the competition provided by Ashwin, will be ever-present throughout.
One surprise India could spring would be picking 33-year-old Karun Nair. Nair, who was playing club cricket in England as recently as two summers ago, has had a pub quiz question of a career so far, making a triple century against England in just his third-ever Test back in 2016, but failing to make it past 30 in any of his other six innings and being subsequently dropped.
Eight years later and off the back of incredibly strong domestic performances in India, as well as two stellar stints for Northamptonshire in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024, he could make a comeback that became all the more likely after he made a double-century for India ‘A’ against England Lions at Canterbury this month.
