As the riveting 5-match Test series between England and India heads to its midpoint, all eyes are set on the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, which will host the third Test. With the series level at 1-1, the upcoming clash promises high-stakes drama.
England kicked off the series in style, chasing down a mammoth 371-run target to win the opening Test. However, India bounced back in remarkable fashion, scripting history with their maiden Test victory at Edgbaston under the leadership of young captain Shubman Gill.
England’s bowling under scrutiny after Edgbaston defeat
Despite home advantage, England’s bowling unit failed to deliver on a placid surface at Edgbaston, where Indian pacers like Mohammed Siraj and debutant Akash Deep thrived with swing and accuracy. In stark contrast, England’s seamers were largely ineffective, prompting questions about team selection and fitness.
Former England skipper Michael Atherton has now weighed in, advocating for changes in the pace department. Atherton emphasized the need to revamp the seam attack rather than overhauling the entire team after just one loss.
Michael Atherton selects the bowling attack of England for Lord’s Test
Atherton specifically advocated for refreshing the seam attack, suggesting that the batting unit should be retained as it is, but the bowling department needs an injection of pace and energy. To achieve this, he recommended bringing in Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson in place of Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse, who failed to make a significant impact in the second Test.
“Clearly the pace attack needs freshening up. Panicked changes are rarely the way to go after defeat. I’d keep faith with the batting and freshen up the seam attack, bringing in [Jofra] Archer and [Gus] Atkinson for Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse,” wrote Atherton in his column for The Times.
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Atherton, however, acknowledged the risks involved with his proposed changes. He pointed out that Archer’s fitness is uncertain, given he has played only one first-class match in the past four years. Atkinson, too, hasn’t featured since injuring his hamstring against Zimbabwe six weeks ago, although he boasts an outstanding record at Lord’s. Atherton noted that if both pacers are included, the third seamer must be capable of handling long spells. He questioned whether Chris Woakes, despite his solid track record at Lord’s, is the right choice due to his poor form in the current series and advancing age. He also expressed doubts about Sam Cook, Woakes’ potential replacement, citing an underwhelming performance in his only Test appearance.
“His (Archer) readiness for the five-day game after just one first-class match in four years is a complete unknown, yet he will surely play. Gus Atkinson has a tremendous record at Lord’s, with ball and bat, but has not played since tweaking his hamstring against Zimbabwe six weeks ago. Pairing with Archer represents a gamble, but if taken (one must assume they are fit once selected in the squad) it means that the third seamer must be ready to bowl long spells. Yet Woakes, who also has a superb record at Lord’s, is 36 years old and has taken three wickets at an average of 96 in this series. His possible replacement, Sam Cook, was unconvincing in his only Test,” added Atherton.
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