Having drawn the 2023 Ashes series 2-2, England’s next Test assignment isn’t for another six months, when they will head to India for the toughest challenge of their new era yet.
India have lost just three of their previous 48 home Test matches. The last time a travelling side was able to win more than one Test in the country was in 2012 when England achieved one of their greatest modern series wins. That was the series in which Joe Root and Ravindra Jadeja made their Test debuts, and Virat Kohli scored his first Test century against England.
Despite their success over the last 14 months, England face significant challenges to repeating their 2012 feat. Their spin options look more sparse than ever, the seam-bowling attack is ageing and how they approach R Ashwin is as big a question as it was before their last visit in 2021.
Who are the spinners?
Moeen Ali confirmed that he would not be answering any other SOS call from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for the India tour, so England will be without the balance he can bring them. Jack Leach should be recovered from his stress fracture in time to reprise his role as first-choice spinner by January. That leaves at least one space, potentially two, for others to pad out the spin attack. Rehan Ahmed should take one of these, he was the option they called upon as back-up for Moeen when his finger counted him out at Lord’s.
The most likely other options England have at their disposal are Will Jacks and Liam Dawson. Jacks has barely bowled for Surrey this season and despite taking a six-for in Pakistan is far from a genuine all-rounder at this point. Where he could fit in is as a batting all-rounder in the middle order who provides an extra spin option when needed. For that, however, England would probably need to drop one of their incumbent batters. Dawson is another all-round option and a discard of India tours past. However, he has had an excellent county season, taking 20 wickets at 18.50, definitely the stand-out domestic spinner in the country. Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson is highly thought but the 22-year-old averages more than 50 with the ball in 2023.
How do they fit in a fifth bowling option?
Ben Stokes bowled 29 overs across the five Ashes Tests and at times looked in significant pain while batting. The balance he gives as the most genuine all-rounder at England’s disposal is on the wane and without his bowling – and Moeen Ali batting in the top seven – England struggle to field five bowling options. With the length of time they could be bowling for in India and the challenges the surfaces present bowling attacks, they’ll want to go in with at least five frontline bowling options. It makes sense if he’s playing as a specialist batter, for Stokes to slot in at three. He looked comfortable there at the Kia Oval Ashes Test. That leaves five bowling slots lower down the order.
The problem here is that this would probably require one of Ahmed or Woakes to bat at seven, most likely Woakes. While Woakes does have a Test century and hit the winning runs for England in the Headingley Ashes Test, this feels one place too high. Equally, Woakes averages 81.33 in India with the ball, his player of the series performance in the Ashes doesn’t guarantee him a place in India. The first two spinners on the team sheet are likely to be Rehan and Leach, with three of Woakes, Anderson, Robinson, Wood, Tongue, Dawson or Jacks to fill the remaining spot. Either Jacks or Dawson could bat at seven, Dawson offering the most with the ball. If England go with two spinners, the wildcard that could be thrown in is Sam Curran. He would be able to bat at seven and provide a left-arm seam option.
How do England fit Ollie Pope back into the side?
Pope has been England’s most stable No.3 in almost a decade since he moved up the order last year. Despite that, he’d had a quiet couple of games before he dislocated his shoulder at Lord’s. His double hundred earlier in the summer at Lord’s came on a flat pitch against an inexperienced Ireland attack and he has a poor record against the two best sides in the world, India and Australia. However, it should also be said that prior to his injury at Lord’s there were very few people questioning his place in the side. As it is, leaving him out of the side provides the most balance, with Stokes at three.
To fit back in, Stokes would be back in the middle order and probably have to bowl. England have looked to pack their batting under McCullum and Stokes before, particularly in Pakistan. But only when Stokes has been fit to bowl a chunk of overs. Pope’s best chance of getting back in is if Stokes’ knee regenerates over the next six months.
Does Foakes come back in?
With Pope struggling to get back into the side, the road looks even tougher for Ben Foakes. Had Jonny Bairstow’s keeping not looked significantly better for the final two Ashes Tests, he might have had more of a chance. However, keeping in Asia is a very different challenge than in England. Quick stumpings, and catches standing up to the stumps in the heat are crucial. If Bairstow struggles again, the longing for Foakes’ glovework will continue. Also, Bairstow averages 29.92 in India with the bat, while Foakes has proven his capabilities in Asia.
The only real way he could come back into the side is as a straight swap for Bairstow. That looks exceedingly unlikely. With both Harry Brook and Bairstow in the side, there isn’t room for Foakes.
Can Anderson go for one last ride?
James Anderson has reiterated multiple times that he intends to continue his career at least to the India tour. But, he has admitted the decision as to whether he goes will be up to the selectors. Given Stokes has said several times he still wants Anderson leading his attack, despite Anderson’s drop-off in the Ashes series, he looks likely to retain his place in the squad. Anderson has an outstanding recent record in Asia; he was the difference between the two sides in England’s 2012 victory in India and even in 2021, averaged 15.87 with the ball in India.
