England’s Test cricketers are due to report to Headingley three weeks today for the start of the post-Bazball era.
With Ben Stokes now in international retirement and Brendon McCullum sacked following a winless 12 months, uncertainty looms ahead of three matches against Pakistan.
Here, Daily Mail Sport looks at the big issues ahead of the first Test starting on August 19.
When do England hope to appoint a replacement for McCullum?
Time is tight to settle on a new Test specialist coach, after the ECB’s first choice, Andy Flower, declined to apply for the position. However, interviews are taking place with multiple candidates this week.
The board have not yet ruled out appointing the new man in time for Headingley, potentially as early as next week, with New Zealander Stephen Fleming, plus homegrown duo Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott leading the Flower-less shortlist.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould also has a long-standing relationship with Australian Justin Langer, developed during their time together at Somerset when Gould was chief executive and Langer was captain. The pair were seen leaving the Perth Stadium together after England’s two-day Ashes defeat last November.
Justin Langer (pictured) has a long-standing relationship with ECB CEO Richard Gould, but is now seen as an unlikely choice to replace Brendon McCullum as England’s Test coach
Former England batsman Jonathan Trott, who did a fine job establishing Afghanistan as one of the world’s leading limited-overs sides, is in the running for the job
However, Langer is viewed as a less likely option now. England already have one Australian in their think tank ahead of next year’s Ashes in national selector Marcus North and adding a second would leave them open to ridicule.
Fleming, someone accustomed to working with McCullum from their New Zealand playing days, is immediately available after severing ties with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. Trott, who established Afghanistan as one of the world’s leading limited-overs sides, is currently doing consultancy work while Dawson is contracted with Glamorgan.
Equally, England are relaxed about the prospect of Marcus Trescothick standing in as interim coach if necessary.
The 50-year-old fronted the white-ball tour of the Caribbean in late 2024 following Matthew Mott’s exit and declared his interest in becoming permanent coach in an interview with Daily Mail Sport.
Who will replace Stokes as captain?
This, as Gould has said, will be the choice of whoever is appointed head coach.
As we reported at the end of the Trent Bridge defeat by New Zealand, which saw the curtain come down on Stokes’ four-year tenure, Joe Root was lined up to take over once more.
Root made multiple references to ‘enjoying working in this space’ alongside McCullum when stepping in for the suspended Stokes at The Oval, but the Kiwi’s subsequent departure from the role has altered the dynamic.
It might be that the new man agrees that Root, 35, is the safe pair of hands England require to take them through to the end of next summer’s Ashes.
The new head coach might decide that Joe Root (left) is a safer pair of hands than Harry Brook and the man to take England through to the end of next summer’s Ashes
But Brook has done a fine job with the white-ball sides and says it would be an honour to captain the Test team
Harry Brook would be the more adventurous choice and he has made no secret of his ambition, saying it would be an honour to add the Test captaincy to his limited-overs duties. Naturally, though, there will be fears about over-burdening the 27-year-old Brook, the side’s most obvious match-winning talent at this stage of his career.
Brook’s record thus far suggests he copes with dual responsibility rather well: England’s run of 18 wins in 21 matches took them to the top of the T20 rankings earlier this month and they followed it up with a 2-1 victory over India in the one-day series.
An alternative juncture for his accession would be after the 2027 World Cup when Jacob Bethell, England’s vice-captain in limited-overs cricket, could share the load by taking one of the two white-ball armbands.
And what’s the plan for replacing Stokes as a player?
It is a question without an obvious solution given Stokes’ enduring quality as an international all-rounder.
One seam-bowling candidate for the No 7 role on county form would be Yorkshire’s George Hill, who averages 31 with the bat and takes his wickets at 22.5 runs apiece across his career.
At 25, Hill, a former Sedbergh schoolmate of Brook, is maturing into one of the country’s most skilful players, but his lack of pace with the ball could be an issue, with his top speed being 80mph rather than 90.
Sam Curran has not given up on resurrecting his Test career, but having re-established himself as an automatic white-ball pick over the past year, his domestic first-class appearances have been sporadic as a result.
While an alternative selection, if going back to those tried previously, would be Craig Overton, who is having the season of his life with Somerset: a new personal best 548 Championship runs and 33 wickets at 19.54.
The other option would be to pick Rehan Ahmed either as frontline spinner, or as support to Shoaib Bashir if, as expected, the pitches remain dry and conducive to turn in August.
George Hill (left), a former schoolmate of Harry Brook’s, is a contender to replace Ben Stokes in the England XI
All-rounder Sam Curran has not given up on resurrecting his Test career
How are our fast bowlers Archer, Tongue and Atkinson preparing?
With a diet of short format cricket, unfortunately. The schedule prevents any meaningful preparation for a Test series, forcing them to tick over in the nets while the Hundred is on.
To his credit, Archer has become accomplished at switching modes over recent times, as highlighted by him claiming 11 wickets at 23 in two defeats to New Zealand after returning from the IPL.
Archer and Tongue then bowled with sustained hostility against India, while Atkinson and Tongue were both outstanding for Manchester Super Giants on Sunday, each conceding just a run a ball.
How could England line up against Pakistan?
Duckett, Gay, Bethell, Root, Brook (capt), Smith (wkt), Hill, Atkinson, Archer, Tongue, Bashir.
