England will start their Test summers against mercurial Pakistan Team lead by Sarfraz Ahmed.
The last time when the two met, series was tied at 2-2. The mainstays of the batting line-up, Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan, are no more. Both played a part in victories of Pakistan at Lord’s (Misbah’s Hundred) and Younis Khan (218) at Oval.
The team looks thin on experience and at home against top quality bowling comprising James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
But England has problems a-plenty, with batting lacking solidarity at No.3, Alastair Cook’s form, Mark Stoneman in a lean patch in county cricket and lack of frontline spinner in the absence of Moeen Ali.
Ben Stokes being back in the team is good news for England. The number three position is a matter of concern, as Joe Root has expressed his desire to stay at second drop.
David Malan, who was the find of the Ashes, struggled against swing and seam in New Zealand.
Perhaps the one thing England can consider is moving Johny Bairstow up the order to no.5 to utilise his batting potential.
Johny Bairstow was brilliant in ODIs and Tests, both in the Ashes and in New Zealand where he scored a Test hundred at Perth and Christchurch. But batting at no.7 means batting with the tail and he is yet to master that skill.
It would be a good idea to push Bairstow at no.5 and allow Ben Foakes to do wicketkeeping duties. This county season, Foakes averaged 61.60.
Foakes’ wicket-keeping has been top notch this season, against Hampshire he took three brilliant offside catches to show his worth.
He has got a good record than some of the others considered for Test selection such as James Vince and Mark Stoneman. But England needs to push Bairstow up the order and slot in Foakes.
He has been part of the team for over a year now. The time has indeed come to Test him before embarking on the overseas journey
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Andrew Strauss retirement to be honest England had issues.
Paul
Roar Guru
I hope Root DOES have to bat at 3 if that is the position that best helps the team. The Poms have had no real consistent opening stands at Test level for a few years and they must get their best batsman in to stop opposition bowlers getting on a roll.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
I hope Root isn't made to do a job he is not comfortable it .If at all Root had to bat at No.3 it was in Ashes 2017.England missed a no.3 like him.A guy like Jos who could take game away from opposition would have been a great replacement for Ben Stokes.
AREH
Roar Guru
Wow so Buttler comes in at the expense of Vince, Moeen excluded and Dominic Bess included as the off-spinner. Assuming they do play him, just comes down to which quick bowler misses out. Root going to bat at number three finally it seems.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Well Buttler has just been picked in England's Test squad to play Pakistan!
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Ronnan is it important Butlers play FC cricket at first place or may be he shows extraordinary form not just in IPL but also in First Class cricket.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Buttler is freakishly talented, I'd still like to see him get another run at Test cricket but unfortunately for him the single department in the England team in which they're flush for talent is wicketkeeping. Bairstow is a very good Test batsman and an improving keeper, and behind him Ben Foakes utterly dominates in county cricket - averages 42 with the bat and is renowned as a brilliant gloveman.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
England will struggle to improve their current status as an ordinary Test team if they pick Moeen as their number 1 spinner. Moeen's now averaged 45 with the ball in his past 40 Tests, utterly horrendous figures for your number 1 spinner. But he keeps get picked because he makes some handy runs now and then. The role of a number 1 spinner is incredibly important, particularly now that Test pitches worldwide are flatter than ever and your spinner needs to take on a massive workload quite often. The most damning Moeen stat is this ..... he has averaged 46 or higher with the ball in 10 of his last 12 series. That proves he is consistently ineffective.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
True But David Malan is potential candidate to bat at no.3 and one to make way for Foakes should be james Vince for now.Not sure why isn't Jos Butler playing FC cricket.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
True
Tom Simon
Roar Pro
Plus Moeen Ali at eight, and that's a line up that should be regularly posting 350+
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
What about playing Jos Buttler in the Test side, he is in such a good form of late.
Paul
Roar Guru
You make a very sound case for Foakes to play for sure but the issue is with the entire lineup and it starts with Root's refusal to bat at 3. England's openers are going to be one for not many and this is where Root, as the sides best bat, would be invaluable, but he's put his foot down and as a result, unbalanced the batting. If you had Cook, Stoneman, Root, Bairstow, Malan, Stokes, Foakes, then the bowlers, that's a pretty fair lineup on paper, but Root needs to put the team before himself and bat higher.
AREH
Roar Guru
Like this, and surprised it hasn't happened sooner. Foakes is the best gloveman in the UK from what I have heard and read, and has a FC average of 42, and this season over 60 as you mentioned. Both he and Bairstow in the side only improves England, and in terms of who makes way, maybe it is Vince. Either way I think Bairstow at 4 and Malan at 5 looks ideal.