If you needed confirmation that selection for England’s Test team this summer will be the most open it has been for years then Ben Duckett’s decision to pull out of the Indian Premier League provided it.
The 4-1 Ashes mauling in Australia last winter did not result in either coach Brendon McCullum or managing director of cricket Rob Key losing their jobs – a decision that angered many disgruntled fans.
Yet the indication from Key following the post-Ashes review was that the opening rounds of this year’s County Championship will be the most consequential in a generation given his admission that selection has not been “ruthless” enough in recent years.
“We’ve overvalued loyalty and overvalued having a settled team,” Key said, adding that there would now be “opportunity” for county players to stake their claim for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June once the new season starts on Friday week.
Rob Key (right) admitted mistakes were made in the Ashes – but has not moved to sack Brendon McCullum (Photo: AFP)Duckett’s decision to renege on his £200,000 IPL deal with Delhi Capitals wasn’t a huge surprise given a tough winter that saw him average just 20.20 in the Ashes.
Yet the fact that England’s opening spots are perhaps the most vulnerable to change this summer was not lost on the Nottinghamshire batter either.
“I’ve thought a lot about this, and know it’s the right decision for my career,” Duckett told The Telegraph. “It felt like the best thing for me to do to be ready to play for England is to be here right now, at home, refreshing my mind and body. More importantly, play some four-day cricket for Notts.”
So, what positions might be up for grabs ahead of that New Zealand Test series in June and who might be in the reckoning to come in?
Opening batter
Most vulnerable: Zak Crawley
While Duckett’s Ashes was poor, he has way more credit in the bank than his opening partner, whose average of 27.30 in Australia again raised questions over his suitability for Test cricket. Needs runs for Kent at the start of the season.
Contenders
Asa Tribe
The 21-year-old cracked an unbeaten century against Australia A playing for the Lions last winter and averaged 45 for Glamorgan last summer, including a maiden double hundred. His runs helped his club get promoted and Division One runs this summer will definitely put him in the frame for a Test debut.
Asa Tribe has impressed in England Lions colours over the winter in Australia and the Middle East (Photo: Getty)Dom Sibley
With a first-class strike-rate of 41.22, the Surrey man is not in the Bazball mould but he was the leading runscorer in the Championship last summer, with 1,274 at 60. Played 22 Tests before being dropped in 2022.
Haseeb Hameed
Second in the Division One runscoring charts last summer behind Sibley and another who has previous Test experience. Captains Nottinghamshire.
Ben McKinney
The 21-year-old is Durham man is behind Tribe in the pecking order but that could change with runs this summer.
Wicketkeeper
Most vulnerable: Jamie Smith
Another who struggled in Australia and is not helped by the fact he doesn’t keep wicket for his county Surrey. Position should be safe but there are others who might step in if form is an issue.
Contenders
James Rew
The Somerset keeper, 22, is not as highly-rated as his younger brother Thomas but he has the gloves for his county and averages above 40 in first-class cricket. Given Thomas has yet to play in the County Championship, this is the only Rew in the running at the moment.
Rew made 92 for an England team against the Prime Minister’s XI in Australia this winter (Photo: Getty)Jordan Cox
as England’s spare batter-keeper before he was overlooked for the Ashes and could step up – but probably not now given he will miss the start of the county season to play in the IPL.
Ollie Pope
Ousted from No 3 in the Test team by Jacob Bethell during the Ashes but he’s previously batted No 6 and kept, most recently in New Zealand at the end of 2024.
Spinner
Most vulnerable: Will Jacks
It’s debatable whether England will need a spinner at home this summer given both Bethell and Joe Root can chip in with overs when needed. Jacks is also at the IPL until late May.
Contenders
James Coles
The 21-year-old Sussex all-rounder was the most expensive player at the recent Hundred auction – fetching £390,000. Would be bold England pick but could force way in with his strong batting and left-arm spin.
Coles fetched a huge price at the Hundred auction earlier this month (Photo: Getty)Matt Critchley
Another spinning all-rounder. The Essex player, 29, is experienced and averaged 30 with his leg spin last season and 42 with the bat.
Seamers
Most vulnerable: Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer.
Atkinson averaged 47 in Australia so could do with wickets at the start of the season. Both Carse and Archer are in the IPL, making them doubts for the first Test.
Contenders
Sam Cook
Namechecked by Key this week, who said the Essex seamer is “back on the radar” after the international retirement of Chris Woakes. Disappointing in his one Test so far against Zimbabwe last summer but a first-class average of 20.64 speaks for itself.
Eddie Jack
The 6ft 4in fast bowler is highly rated by the Lions set-up and could force his way into the conversation with a good start to the season.
Sonny Baker
Like Jack, he plies his trade at Hampshire but is quicker and has already played for England in white-ball cricket last summer.
Possible XI for the first Test vs New Zealand at Lord’s, 4-8 June
Ben Duckett Asa Tribe Jacob Bethell Joe Root Harry Brook Ben Stokes (c) James Rew (wk) James Coles Gus Atkinson Josh Tongue Sam CookHence then, the article about my england xi for the new era and the five players most likely to be axed was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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