With England’s first Test of the summer just over a month away, competition for places following last winter’s Ashes debacle in Australia is fierce.
Of the XI that lost the final Test in Sydney in early January, most will be in contention to face New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June.
But how are they shaping up in the early weeks of the season and who’s in danger of missing out?
Of those absent in Sydney, Jofra Archer (playing in the Indian Premier League) and Gus Atkinson (One game for Surrey so far this season) will be in the mix for Lord’s. Fellow fast bowler Mark Wood, still out with the knee injury sustained in the Ashes, is not.
Here is the lowdown on England’s last Test XI and a look at a few from outside the Ashes squad who might force their way in…
Zak Crawley
Form: Just 118 Division Two runs at 19.66 in three Championship matches for Kent – nowhere near good enough to keep his place.
Readiness rating (out of 10): 1
Chances of making first Test: Almost non-existent. After failing to consistently deliver across 64 Tests it’s time for a change.
Ben Duckett
Form: After pulling out of the IPL, he made scores of 62 and 93 in his second Championship game of the season for Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire.
Readiness rating: 8
Chances of making first Test: Will retain his place. Has credit in the bank despite a poor Ashes series.
Jacob Bethell
Form: Spent most of the past month warming the bench for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL but has come in for the last two games, scoring of 14 and 20.
Readiness rating: 3
Chances of making first Test: Ashes century in Sydney underlined his class. A certainty regardless of how many IPL games he plays.
Joe Root
Form: Made 96 for Yorkshire against Sussex in the latest round of County Championship matches – his first red-ball match since Sydney.
Readiness rating: 9
Chances of making first Test: First name on the team-sheet other than captain Ben Stokes. Will play twice more for Yorkshire before New Zealand.
Harry Brook
Form: On an extended break since returning from the T20 World Cup last month. Returns for Yorkshire’s Championship matches against Warwickshire and Surrey next month.
Readiness rating: 6
Chances of making first Test: No question he plays. Two games for his county should get him up to speed for New Zealand.
Ben Stokes
Form: Has not played since Sydney. Said he’s “lucky” to be alive following cheekbone fracture sustained after being hit in the nets at Durham in February. Scheduled to play twice in the Championship next month ahead of the Test summer.
Readiness rating: 2
Chances of making first Test: Unless he’s injured, the captain obviously plays.
Jamie Smith
Form: Red hot before he scored five for Surrey against Essex in the latest round of Championship matches. Before that he scored 396 runs in two games batting at No 3.
Readiness rating: 10
Chances of making first Test: Another who had a poor Ashes but looks good to retain his place after strong start to the summer.
Will Jacks
Form: Has not played since early March but is expected to play his first IPL game for Mumbai Indians this week.
Readiness rating: 1
Chances of making first Test: In the balance. Will he have played enough cricket by early June and do England even need a spinner for the New Zealand series?
Brydon Carse
Form: Has not played since Sydney and was ruled out of his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad with an injury to his bowling hand.
Readiness rating: 0
Chances of making first Test: Unlikely to be fit.
Matthew Potts
Form: Good start to the season, taking 15 wickets in three matches for Durham.
Readiness rating: 8
Chances of making first Test: With bowling spots up for grabs he’s in strong contention.
Josh Tongue
Form: Has played twice for Nottinghamshire, taking a five-wicket haul against Warwickshire in the latest round.
Readiness rating: 7
Chances of making first Test: The only bowler nailed on for a place in the team right now following his excellent Ashes series.
Four who could step up…
James Rew
Form: Somerset keeper-batter has 379 runs at 75.80 in his first three Championship matches.
Readiness rating: 10
Chances of making first Test: Might have to wait given he’d probably have to bat out of position as an opener to get in.
Emilio Gay
Form: Two centuries this season, including an unbeaten 159 to help Durham chase down 336 against Lancashire this week.
Readiness rating: 10
Chances of making first Test: Good. Although he’s batting No 3 for Durham – and his runs are in Division Two – he’s now the favourite to replace Crawley.
Sam Cook
Form: Has 15 wickets at 21 for Essex.
Readiness rating: 9
Chances of making first Test: Strong. If England are serious about rewarding county performances, he deserves another shot after Test debut against Zimbabwe last summer.
Sonny Baker
Form: The 23-year-old fast bowler has 13 wickets at 21.84 for Hampshire.
Readiness rating: 4
Chances of making first Test: Slim. Inexperienced but England like him.
And one wildcard…
Henry Crocombe
Form: Sussex seamer is the leading wicket-taker in Division One with 16 at 17.87.
Readiness rating: 4
Chances of making first Test: Aged 24 with 43 first-class games under his belt and genuine pace. Still a long shot.
My England XI for the first Test against New Zealand
- Emilio Gay
- Ben Duckett
- Jacob Bethell
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wkt)
- Gus Atkinson
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
- Sam Cook
