Ones to watch include Ben Stokes, James Vince and Jason Roy
Thursday 9 April 2015 15:24, UK
England face an uncertain future.
With the challenge of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa as their next three Test opponents, a disastrous World Cup performance to put right, and a position of eighth in the international T20 rankings, there are concerns.
But there are plenty of players to watch out for across all three formats who could ultimately turn England's fortunes around...
TESTS
Alex Lees (batsman)
It is often said (by people from Yorkshire at least) that a strong Yorkshire means a strong England. That seems to be the case, certainly at the moment, with six from the county included in the squad for the West Indies. Lees wasn't one of them but with a first-class top-score of 275no and an average a shade under 40, he would not look out of place on that touring party. For now, his opening partner, Adam Lyth, is ahead of him in the pecking order, as is the returning Jonathan Trott but at only 21 years old, Lees will be afforded many more opportunities.
Ben Stokes (all-rounder)
It is easy to forget that Stokes is still just 23-years-old, and has played only six Test matches. With all the toing and froing over his place, and role in the England side across all three formats, some perspective has been lost over his prodigious talent. Just over 12 months ago, we were revelling in England's next great hope after an Ashes century in Perth, England's lone ton from the tour. But three ducks across two home Tests against India saw him dropped. He has the chance to turn things round in the West Indies, if he plays. If he doesn't, he can show us all what we’re missing for Durham.
Mark Footitt (bowler)
Durham's Mark Wood is the next cab off the rank it would appear, with his surprise call-up for England's West Indies tour. But Footitt is another somewhat unfashionable pick that could force his way into contention. Counting against the 29-year-old is exactly that - he's 29. He's also playing second division cricket for Derbyshire. But in his favour, he topped the Division Two wicket-takers table in 2014 with 82 victims - 19 clear of second place - and he has at least one supporter. Sky Sports' Bumble said on England’s recent squad announcement: "I always like a wildcard and I would have definitely taken Derbyshire’s Mark Footitt; he’s left-arm and he’s quick."
James Vince (batsman)
Calls are growing for Vince to not just be selected, but have a larger role in the rebuilding of England's faulty one-day outift. Former Hampshire team-mate and Sky Sports pundit, Dominic Cork, even talked him up as England’s future captain. Currently without a cap of any sort to his name, that talk is perhaps premature. His one-day record is not exceptional but also not to be sniffed at, with three hundreds and an average of 35.75. Most crucially, his strike-rate is an aggressive 93.80, and in terms of places to serve a one-day apprenticeship, Hampshire is top of the pile. The county has four limited-overs trophies over the past six years, with five consecutive T20 finals day appearances.
Sam Billings (all-rounder)
Although England are in more than capable hands with Jos Buttler behind the stumps in ODI cricket, they must surely find a role for another wicketkeeper-batsman in Billings. Both are deserving of a place in the side on batting alone, with Billings’ 2014 in particular quite remarkable. The Kent ‘keeper hit 458 runs in seven innings in the Royal London One-Day Cup, averaging 114.50 and with a stratospheric strike-rate of 154.20. He also hit the most sixes in the competition with 17 and, boy, could England do with a few more of those.
Reece Topley (bowler)
Topley has impressed considerably across all three formats for Essex, with averages of 25.56 in four-day cricket, 27.66 in one-dayers, and 19.36 in T20s. Given Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult’s impact on the World Cup, with 22 scalps apiece, along with a continued trend in one-day cricket that has seen the leading wicket-taker in every World Cup from 1999 be a left-armer, Topley could be the one to provide the variety to England’s attack that is so desperately lacking. If he can stay on the field that is, with injuries hampering the speed of the 21-year-old’s ascent.
Jason Roy (batsman)
How can you not include him? He is the constant out of a hatful of names to have been mentioned following England’s disastrous World Cup campaign and while there is certainly an argument to him also featuring in England’s ODI set-up right away, we’ve earmarked him - initially at least - for success in T20s. With 677 runs for Surrey with an average of 48.35 in last season’s T20 Blast, it’s not hard to see why. Such performances earned Roy his Englland debut in a T20I against India at the back-end of last summer and a Big Bash stint with Sydney Thunder. But you sense that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this immensely talented 24-year-old.
David Willey (all-rounder)
Ever since his sensational performance in firing Northamptonshire to T20 success in 2013, Willey has been on England's radar. And in case you'd forgotten it, he hit a 19-ball half-century (the fastest of the season), and took a hat-trick to finish off the match and finish with figures of 4-9. A stress fracture to his back limited the number of games he could play last year, appearing in just half of Northants' 16 four-day games, three of seven one-day outings, and although he did play in the full T20 calendar, his bowling struggled with just five wickets at 49.60 apiece. His batting still prospered with a top score of 95 and if he can stay on the field in 2015, an England call is sure to follow.
Matt Coles (bowler)
Coles did little to endear himself to the powers that be when he and Stokes were sent home from an England Lions tour of Australia at the start of 2013 after a few too many late nights. While Stokes found himself with an Ashes hundred to his name a year later, Coles has found further recognition harder to come by. But he’s quick, capable of some blistering lower-order cameos with the bat - perfect for T20 - and he’s a character. His one-day record is more impressive than his T20 with averages of 23.93 and 29.39 respectively, but England may be willing to only make a 20-over punt on him at this stage.
