The Cricket Thread

England’s stand-in head coach Paul Collingwood is set to announce a string of new names today in the England Test squad to play against West Indies in the three-match series next month.

Uncapped batsmen including Alex Lees, the Durham opener, are expected to be called up, with one of Collingwood’s first decisions expected to be whether to break up the veteran seam bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Josh Bohannon, the 24-year-old Lancashire middle-order batsman, could also earn a call-up but Jos Buttler is likely to be dropped after a poor Ashes series.

Collingwood, 45, was confirmed as England’s interim head coach for the series, which starts on March 8, after Chris Silverwood was sacked last week following the dismal 4-0 defeat in Australia. He will meet fellow selectors Andrew Strauss, in his capacity as interim director of men’s cricket after the sacking of Ashley Giles, and James Taylor, the ECB’s chief scout, this morning to finalise a squad of 17 or 18 players.

Joe Root, who remains as Test captain, will be part of the selection discussions, but in a non-voting capacity.

The biggest decision to be taken is on Anderson, 39, and Broad, 35, which could mean that one of them — most likely Broad — is left out of the squad.

In the post-Ashes report that he submitted before he was sacked, Giles is understood to have said that the time had come to manage “the end” of the two veterans’ careers, and there is a possibility that Strauss and Collingwood may feel that now is the time to start the reset of England’s Test team and look to developing the future.

But they may shy away from axeing one of the pair before a permanent director of cricket and head coach are appointed. There is a feeling in some quarters that Root has more chance of taking the team forward without at least one of the dominant personalities of his two most senior bowlers.

Several changes are likely in the batting line-up after an Ashes series in which the team failed to pass 300 in any innings. Haseeb Hameed, who averaged only ten in Australia, scoring 80 runs in four Tests before he was dropped for the final match, looks certain to be a casualty. Rory Burns, who was dropped and then recalled during the series, may survive.

Even if Burns keeps his place, Lees gives another top-order option alongside Zak Crawley, who despite not being picked for the first two Ashes Tests cemented his future with an assured 77 in Sydney. Dawid Malan begun brightly in Australia with two good half-centuries in Brisbane and Adelaide and is likely to keep his place despite a dip in form towards the end of the series.

Lees, 28, captained the England Lions squad in Australia and is understood to have impressed the coaching team with his improving technique and game management, and his leadership skills and tactical decisions.

Buttler’s expected omission could signal the end of his Test career. The Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman fractured a finger during the Ashes series and flew home before the final Test.

Although in theory he could be fit by the start of the first Test in Antigua starting on March 8, England are set to bring back Ben Foakes. Sam Billings, who received a surprise call-up for the final Ashes Test, is expected to be retained as a back-up keeper.

Bohannon, is also likely to be one of the new names in the squad and would provide another option for the middle order. Ollie Pope could not feel too aggrieved if he is left out after struggling desperately in Australia, averaging just 11.16. Johnny Bairstow secured his immediate Test future with a century in Sydney and will be one of the options to bat at No 6.

Among the other bowlers, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson are both certainties for West Indies and although he has a dismal record away from home, Chris Woakes, will probably keep his place because England need a back-up all-rounder in case Stokes gets injured.

Saqib Mahmood could get his chance alongside one of Liam Norwell or Matt Fisher – both of whom impressed on the Lions tour to Australia.

In the spin department, Jack Leach remains the first choice but Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire leg spinner, could replace Dom Bess as the back-up.

There is an outside chance that Liam Livingstone is selected as another all-round option although his modest first-class record is likely to count against him.

Possible squad: James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Josh Bohannon, Sam Billings (wkt), Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Matt Fisher, Ben Foakes (wkt), Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Fixtures
First Test — Antigua, Mar 8-12;
Second Test — Bridgetown, Mar 16-20;
Third Test — Grenada, Mar 24-28

Mommy wrote:So Root doesn't get a say in choosing the team. That has to hurt. Also...Rory Burns should not be going to the Windies.
Not even on holiday.

Strauss, Collingwood and head scout James Taylor picked the 16-man squad for the Windies tour.

They have also dropped Dom Bess, Sam Billings, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan, who were also part of the Ashes squad.

Lancashire bowler Saqib Mahmood and spinner Matthew Parkinson have been included and will be aiming to make their Test debuts, while wicketkeeper Ben Foakes returns to the England set-up.

Durham opener Alex Lees and Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher have been called up for the first time.

"With the start of a new cycle, it has allowed the selection panel to refresh the Test squad with a particular focus on competing away from home," said Strauss.

"We felt that it was time to draw a line after the Ashes defeat, look forward and give some impetus with an influx of new players."

England squad: Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Alex Lees (Durham), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)

Joe Root has been told he will bat at No.3 in the Caribbean.

Root has retained the England Test captaincy despite the miserable Ashes tour, and he will lead his country into a three-match series against West Indies from March 8.

But instead of occupying his preferred No.4 spot, The Cricketer understands the new England management will insist he slots in at the fall of the first wicket.

England are taking two inexperienced openers on the trip - the uncapped Alex Lees of Durham and Kent's Zak Crawley - while the squad is also relatively light on middle-order options.

Ben Stokes could also be elevated as a result, to No.4, with Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence seemingly competing for the two remaining top-six places.

The squad picked by Strauss and interim head coach Paul Collingwood is stacked with bowling allrounders and outright bowlers - Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Matt Fisher, Jack Leach, Matt Parkinson, and Saqib Mahmood.

None of those players could be sensibly considered a Test No.7, meaning it is highly likely that Ben Foakes will play as well as Bairstow.