As their 10-wicket loss to the West Indies in Grenada turned into a series of five straight winless matches and extended a streak of 17 Tests with just one win, what are the biggest questions facing the big ball restart? england red?
Joe Root came out and said he is passionate about continuing as England Test captain despite a dismal run of results.
England’s red ball restart has been more of a red ball repeat in the face of evidence of yet another calamitous capitulation in Grenada when the tourists suffered a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of the West Indies, making it a run of five series without victory.
The 4-0 Ashes debacle that preceded this tour was supposed to mark a new era of English test cricket, and although the ‘interim’ appointments of managing director of cricket Sir Andrew Strauss and head coach Paul Collingwood were always they emphasized to be just that, two months left on many of the same questions, along with some new ones.
Here we break down some of the most pressing concerns regarding the future of the England Test squad as they try to finally turn the corner…
England’s loss in the third Test completes a string of results where they have only a solitary Test victory to show from their last 17 matches dating back to February 2021.
Such a miserable stretch has given rise to speculation about Root’s future as captain, but he was quite emphatic in his enthusiasm to continue in the role when he spoke up after another loss.
“I made it pretty clear at the start of this game and throughout this tour that I’m passionate about trying to move this team forward,” Root said.
“I feel like the group is very supportive of me. We’re doing a lot of really good things, we just need to turn that into results now.”
Strauss gave Root a vote of confidence by installing him as captain for this tour, but former England captain Michael Atherton believes his position is now “untenable”.
Atherton wrote in his column on The times: “As was obvious to anyone who was in Australia, and should have been to anyone who wasn’t, Root has reached the end of the road as captain.
“A change will not cure all ills, this is a poor team and England are paying the price for neglect of the first-class game, but there simply comes a time when a captain has nothing new to say, there are no new methods to motivate their players and it requires a different voice or a different style.”
Who should that different voice be, though, is another matter. Vice-captain Ben Stokes is the obvious choice thanks to the gigantic influence he already wields as a talisman for this team, but he recently returned from a long break from cricket last year “to prioritize his mental well-being”.
Beyond that, they’re slim options, with most not even sure of their place in the XI, let alone the captaincy.
Root, perhaps prophetically, added after the Granada test: “I will control as much as I can; I don’t think it will ever be in your hands.”
It is far from being in Root’s hands. The decision rests squarely in the inbox of the ECB’s new managing director of cricket, whoever he may be, and, with another missed Test series creating even more uncertainty, his appointment may have been accelerated.
Strauss even admitted it, that England face a “ticking clock” as they look to find the right people to lead the Test side.
“Certainly the ambition is to have the test coach in place for that first test of the summer,” Strauss said when speaking earlier this month.
“In recruiting, there are all kinds of moving parts, including notice periods and I don’t think we can say that categorically, but it’s ambition.”
Amongst the rumored candidates, former Australia batsman, and current Durham director of cricket, Marcus North is said to be the favourite, with former national team manager Ed Smith another top contender.
Several others have been approached, with former England captain and current Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart reportedly turning down the role, as has former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson.
Sky Sports pundit Rob Key is another who has reached out, speaking last week, saying: “A few people have been asked, a few people are opting for these jobs.
“What I got is you have to weigh how much golf you can get out of doing some of these. For me, lifestyle is the big deal.”
As for the new head coach, the main name associated with the post is undoubtedly former Australian batsman Justin Langer, who recently resigned after managing the national team for the last three and a half years, which included the win by 4-0 over England. winter.
But that, along with Root’s future as captain, will only be decided once England have their new man at the top of the food chain.
