For a series of three matches sixteen is a large number of players to choose from.
One extreme option for Lisa Keightley is to pick her strongest side for the first game and stick largely to it. But if that was her plan she would have limited herself to 13, 14 at the most.
At the other extreme she will want to see every player have her chance. But then she won’t be building a pattern of consistency. It’s a tricky business.
In my view she made a number of wrong calls for the test match – and that view I stated before play began. She took a single punt on youth, introducing Sophia Dunkley at No 6. But she retained Georgia Elwiss at No 7 purely as a batter (according to one version). Her decision on the bowling line-up proved as faulty as it looked initially.
The current squad is beginning to look distinctly elderly. Of the younger element (just five under 25!) only Ecclestone is an uncontested certainty. But among the over-25s not enough of them are producing the consistent figures that breed confidence and success.
Bowling Options
For all their past glory I fear the days when Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole can provide the opening attack are severely limited. The pace bowling in the test was distinctly ordinary and samey. One great outswinger from Brunt and a great inswinger from Shrubsole were momentary flashes of brilliance that were not repeated.
In other words Emily Arlott must play. Freya Davies is the other major quick bowler on call. Already in her mid-twenties, she hasn’t yet proved her ability to test top batters with pace and a consistent line. I’m still waiting for Issy Wong (and later Lauren Bell) to receive their call-up papers.
Tash Farrant has deserved her recall. She offers much needed variation with her left-arm over approach. She won’t frighten batters with her pace; it’s swing and angles for her.
My concern: of the six pace bowlers just one is under 25.
Perhaps this time I may be proved right when I say Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn will provide the (main) spin attack. Why Glenn was sent back to Central Sparks last week still defeats me.
That leaves Mady Villiers with a question-mark against her name that she would like replaced with a large exclamation-mark. There is a long queue of able off-spinners lined up behind her; if and when she plays, she’ll need to show the control that keeps batters watchful.
Batting Options
The batting more or less looks after itself. Fran Wilson effectively replaces Elwiss as a middle-order option. In a 50-over game batters 6 and 7 can still make a vital contribution by building a large innings. Wilson will be keen to take advantage of any chance she gets.
That leaves the identity of the next generation of English batters unknown. This summer’s regional cricket will be crucial for a handful of the most talented to make their mark, in ODIs and T20s.
All these deliberations fail to answer the question of selection over three consecutive matches. Only one person is (almost) certain to feature in every match, Amy Jones, as she is the one keeper listed. Even the skipper might be asked to stay on the sidelines and observe the passing scene. In that case everyone could be assured of two matches. Since Keightley is proving to be less of a revolutionary, some players may be either limited to a single game or omitted from all three. How much will she learn if that happens? Too little, I fear.
The squad:
Heather Knight (Western Storm, captain)
Emily Arlott (Central Sparks)
Tammy Beaumont (Lightning)
Katherine Brunt (Northern Diamonds)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Freya Davies (South East Stars)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Tash Farrant (South East Stars)
Sarah Glenn (Central Sparks)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Nat Sciver (Northern Diamonds)
Anya Shrubsole (Western Storm)
Mady Villiers (Sunrisers)
Fran Wilson (Sunrisers)
Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds)
First fixture:
England v India, County Ground Bristol, Sunday 27 June. 11 o’clock start.
