After they lost the first Ashes 2023 Test match at Edgbaston, England have plenty to ponder before the next game at Lord’s.
Despite coming so close to taking the wickets they needed on that final day, the loss precipitated criticism from several directions.
With less than a week until the thrilling contest resumes, here are the biggest questions facing England as they seek to level the series in London.
How far can England push Moeen Ali’s blistered finger?
Despite Joe Root’s commendable effort to solve England’s spin woes, it’s hard to think if Moeen’s shredded finger doesn’t heal in time for Lord’s England would feel comfortable going into the Test with him as their only option for spin. However, the lack of depth Moeen’s selection highlighted in the first place adds a further dimension to the issue. Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks are their next two cabs off the rank by recency of selection, while Liam Dawson would probably be the more sensible choice. But, with Nathan Lyon’s exceptional performance at Edgbaston highlighting how much quality of spin separates the two sides, being down to a third-choice spinner by the second Test only widens that gap further.
The best-case scenario for England is that the week-long break between Tests is enough for that blister to heal. Whether they can risk re-opening it again and having to rely on Root adds another factor to the equation.
Does Anderson’s poor performance justify not playing him at his happiest hunting ground?
James Anderson’s uncharacteristically poor start to the series unquestionably hampered England at Edgbaston. While Ben Stokes’s decision to give Ollie Robinson the new ball as they desperately hunted wickets in the dying phase of the match drew criticism in some quarters, based on Anderson’s record in the match that call was the right one. Anderson has always been the one-word response to dampen Australian hopes of finding big scores in England. He floats in the background as a bogey-man poised to stop their batters from finding success in English conditions, no matter what form they come into it on.
The other question this raises is who would make way for Foakes. Zak Crawley, the man most in danger of losing his spot ahead of the summer, had a decent Test at Edgbaston, while Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook all had outstanding winters. There’s no easy answer. England are highly unlikely to recall Foakes for Lord’s, but another error-strewn performance behind the stumps for Bairstow might force their hand for the second half of the series.
Is smart-Bazball a thing?
Ultimately, as it will ever be when it doesn’t come off, England’s approach is under the microscope. Australia employed the best of both worlds by blunting England’s aggression before emulating it at the end, making England look like their tactics lacked the smarts and flexibility to genuinely keep up with Australia.
The answer to this question is an obvious one. Of course they will back their dynamism to the bitter end. However, going one down with four to play is not irreversible. Going two down with three to go would effectively end their hopes of regaining the urn. If they fail to come off again, the backlash over how far their brand is to blame will be mighty.
