Test Match Breakfast takes a look at some of the biggest issues around cricket ahead of England’s huge first Test against India at Headingley, which will begin a make-or-break year for the hosts.
This morning, RICHARD GIBSON discusses England’s increasingly untraditional selection approach and when we could realistically see Jofra Archer back in the Test squad – providing he comes through unscathed when Sussex travel to Durham.
England roll back the years
Thursday was effectively a dress rehearsal for the main stanza of the international summer and Headingley readied itself with last-minute testing of the electronic advertising around the boundary and its two giant screens.
It involved re-runs of Ben Stokes’ brilliant match-winning Ashes hundred here six years ago on loop.
It was all there: sixes flying into the stands, the dramatic drop at third man, Nathan Lyon’s desperate LBW appeal after Australia had needlessly burnt their reviews, and the panoramic shot of the pandemonium on the western terrace in unison with Stokes celebrating as a cut for four off Pat Cummins sealed the extraordinary one-wicket success.
Mercifully, India were not subjected to pre-match mind games, the footage being turned off as they started practice at 1.30pm.
Sri Lanka’s ambidextrous secret weapon
Despite its scheduling less than a week after the World Test Championship final was decided with South African victory at Lord’s, this five-match series is not the first of a new two-year cycle.
That accolade belongs to Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, a two-match showdown that began with ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake bowling with both arms for the hosts on its opening day in Galle.
Having begun with a concentration of off-spin, Tharindu switched to slow left-arm for his 96th delivery and then alternated between the two styles in Bangladesh’s 495 all out.
All three of his wickets were claimed with offies, though.
Archer’s realistic return date
Jofra Archer has not played a Test match for more than four years, but will try to prove his fitness for a return this summer in Sussex’s County Championship fixture at Durham starting on Sunday.
Archer, 30, has been limited to white-ball cricket over recent years due to a collection of elbow, hand and back injuries, but England captain Ben Stokes revealed his enthusiasm to end his exile when he revealed: ‘He’s been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on. Randomly, a couple of times, he would just message me: Zim?’
That, an ambitious reference to making a comeback in last month’s innings win over Zimbabwe.
Come through at Chester-le-Street, however, and facing India in the third Test at Lord’s will be realistic.
England continue to smash the mould
England have shown an increasing disregard for traditional selection values during the Bazball era, having plumped for Shoaib Bashir on the back of 10 first-class wickets at 67 runs apiece and then picked Jacob Bethell, a player without a professional hundred, to bat in the pivotal position of No 3 in New Zealand.
However, identifying Eddie Jack as someone they wanted to integrate into the Test environment before he had made a County Championship appearance took things up a level.
Fast bowler Jack, 19, joined up with the Test party in Leeds on Monday, but did not stay on to train as planned after it was decided some Vitality Blast games for Hampshire would be more beneficial.
Some things never change
Although England’s five-match series versus India has been re-branded the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, after two of the iconic cricketers who graced it in the past in Sir Jimmy Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar, the Pataudi Medal will be presented to the winning captain next month in a nod to its traditional name in this country.
‘The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments,’ said Anderson.
‘To be recognised in this way is a real honour.’
Tendulkar added: ‘For me, Test cricket embodies life – you give your best, and if things go wrong, it gives you another day to regroup, think, unlearn, and bounce back.
‘And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more – allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden.’
