After their disheartening defeat on the fifth day at Lord’s, England will be considering what changes they can make in order to defeat India at Headingley this week.

Chris Silverwood has already recalled the exiled Dawid Malan, while Ollie Pope is fit again. But what other changes could England make? Here’s a look at the problems facing England and how they might go about solving them.

Where does Dawid Malan bat?

Dawid Malan may have been slightly surprised by his call-up, having not played Test cricket since India’s last tour of England in 2018. Malan was dropped during that series after averaging just over 27 in his first 15 matches. While many had tipped Malan for a place in England’s Ashes squad for this winter due to his prowess against the short ball and his successful Ashes tour in 2017/18, his call has come somewhat earlier than anticipated.

The problem facing Silverwood is where to place Malan in the batting order, particularly given he was dropped from the Test team in the first place due to his inability to play the moving ball (he averages only 20 in Tests in England). Malan has never batted higher than four in Test cricket, but it seems like he’ll be moving to No.3, with Haseeb Hameed taking Dom Sibley’s spot at the top of the order. The other option would be to move the in-form Joe Root to No.3, but the England captain has never relished that role and he’s unlikely to change his mind after his ongoing success at No.4.

Does Pope get into the XI? If so, where?

Ollie Pope was tipped for greatness when he scored a sublime 135 not out against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 2019. However, his form has suffered a dramatic downturn since June 2020, and he hasn’t scored a fifty in his last 15 innings. Short of form and not used to batting in the top four in Test cricket, Pope doesn’t look like the answer to England’s top-order problems, despite the long-held opinion among England fans that he is the future heir to the No. 3 position.

Given Jonny Bairstow’s promising half-century in the first innings at Lord’s, which suggests he might be readjusting to Test cricket once more, and Pope’s lack of recent match practice, it might be better to give the youngster a break from the spotlight and let the more senior players face the daunting challenge of India’s roaring seam attack.

What to do about Sam Curran?

Sam Curran was Player of the Series in what was an incredible debut summer the last time India toured England in 2018. In that series, Curran averaged 23 with the ball and just shy of 39 with the bat – a remarkable start to what promised to be a stellar career for the all-rounder. However, in his 18 Tests since that India series, his bowling average is a lofty 40 and his batting average of 21 merely that of a bowler who can slog around. Those averages are not good enough for a Test match all-rounder and reflect Curran’s struggles to find his niche in the Test arena. While his performance in 2018 hinted at a star player in the making, it has since become apparent that Curran is a player capable of great moments, but not a great player himself. He still has the intangible skill of ‘making things happen’, illustrated by his dismissal of Virat Kohli in the second innings at Lord’s, but since his debut series, he simply has lacked consistency on that front.

With India’s batsmen largely untroubled by Curran’s 80mph in-swingers, Chris Silverwood could look towards Craig Overton to fill the bowling all-rounder’s role at Headingley. Overton’s Test bowling average of 44 from a small sample of four Tests won’t fill England fans with much excitement, but his form in the County Championship this year has been excellent. In seven Championship games, Overton averages 13 with the ball and 28 with the bat, including two half-centuries. With international experience and domestic form under his belt, Overton could provide a good replacement for the gritty Curran, and give the India top order something different to think about.

Pack the batting or preserve the balance of the side?

Rather than drop Curran for Overton, England could instead replace him with another batsman, in the shape of Ollie Pope or Dan Lawrence. Whether packing the batting order is a good idea remains up for debate, as England have often followed such a plan only to be bowled out cheaply and then find themselves a bowler short. Dan Lawrence’s propensity to get out early – he has four ducks in eight Tests – means he is not a reliable choice. It also appears an unlikely move for an England side who favour four quick-bowling options at home.

However, loading the batting could be a way to play both Malan and Pope, without forcing the latter to face the swinging ball at No. 3. Slot Pope in at six, with Buttler and Moeen below him, and England’s batting line-up would, on paper at least, look a lot stronger. However, as has become all too common with England in recent times, there is always the danger of a cataclysmic collapse no matter who is in the side. Pope is arguably not in good enough form to demand his inclusion, and it is perhaps better to preserve the balance of the side and trust the batsmen to do their job. Overton in for Curran as a straight swap looks the smartest option, therefore.

What happens in the absence of Mark Wood?

The final conundrum facing Silverwood and Root is what to do in the absence of Mark Wood who, using his invaluable pace, took figures of 3-51 in the second innings at Lord’s, his best ever figures in a home Test. Given the number of injury woes to their quicks, the problem England face is that there aren’t many other out-and-out pace options in the country. However, Saqib Mahmood, who impressed against Pakistan earlier this summer, has been added to the squad and would add another dimension to the pace attack. Mahmood is a highly skillful bowler who regularly operates in the high-80s and would be an exciting choice for England fans given the success he has had on the domestic scene, and his ability to touch 90mph. Silverwood has a decision to make, but in Wood’s absence, Mahmood looks more ready than anyone else to fill his shoes.