Four things England and Joe Root need to fix for Antigua
The Switch Hit team discuss with Mark Butcher where England went wrong on selection - and what they need from their captain
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Jan-2019
After suffering a crushing defeat in Barbados, England have just a few days to turn things around in time for the second Test in Antigua (where they have never won, by the way). On this week's Switch Hit podcast, the team discussed with former England batsman Mark Butcher where the tourists went wrong - and what they can do to get back in the series.
Don't leave out your tall, experienced seamer
One of the major talking points ahead of the first Test was whether Stuart Broad or Sam Curran would be picked as the second seamer. England went for Curran's swing bowling and all-round skill with the bat, in preference to Broad's hit-the-deck style - but Curran was unable to make an impression with the new ball and struggled for control, finishing with match figures of 29-4-123-1. "In all the history of cricket in the West Indies, whether the pitches have been slower or faster - [you need to pick] tall quick bowlers, always," Butcher said. "Just knowing your history of West Indies cricket, picking Sam Curran in front of Stuart Broad was a bad call."
One of the major talking points ahead of the first Test was whether Stuart Broad or Sam Curran would be picked as the second seamer. England went for Curran's swing bowling and all-round skill with the bat, in preference to Broad's hit-the-deck style - but Curran was unable to make an impression with the new ball and struggled for control, finishing with match figures of 29-4-123-1. "In all the history of cricket in the West Indies, whether the pitches have been slower or faster - [you need to pick] tall quick bowlers, always," Butcher said. "Just knowing your history of West Indies cricket, picking Sam Curran in front of Stuart Broad was a bad call."
Pick a spinner who can play a holding role
England's decision to go with two spinners was also questioned - not least because West Indies selected four quicks, supplemented by the part-time spin of Roston Chase. England succeeded in Sri Lanka by playing Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Jack Leach, the trio complementing each other with their various strengths. But they chose to leave out Leach in Barbados, and subsequently saw both Moeen and Rashid leak runs. Butcher doubted the wisdom of playing two spinners, but said: "Maybe it was the right call. But it was not the right call to play Moeen and Rashid." On whether Leach should come in, he added: "If they decide that they need two spinners, yes. And there's a chance in Antigua that that might be the case. That deck at the Sir Vivian Richards ground is not solid, it's not quick by any means, or hasn't been - so two spinners again might not be the wrong call."
England's decision to go with two spinners was also questioned - not least because West Indies selected four quicks, supplemented by the part-time spin of Roston Chase. England succeeded in Sri Lanka by playing Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Jack Leach, the trio complementing each other with their various strengths. But they chose to leave out Leach in Barbados, and subsequently saw both Moeen and Rashid leak runs. Butcher doubted the wisdom of playing two spinners, but said: "Maybe it was the right call. But it was not the right call to play Moeen and Rashid." On whether Leach should come in, he added: "If they decide that they need two spinners, yes. And there's a chance in Antigua that that might be the case. That deck at the Sir Vivian Richards ground is not solid, it's not quick by any means, or hasn't been - so two spinners again might not be the wrong call."
Time for a change at the top of the order
While Rory Burns' second-innings 84 was a positive amid the rubble, there were continuing doubts about Keaton Jennings, who made scores of 17 and 14 and was twice caught edging drives. Although Jennings has scored two Test hundreds, both in Asia, he has had difficulties against pace bowling - a weakness likely to be probed by West Indies through the series, if he retains his place. England's other option in the squad is Joe Denly, who is uncapped but has plenty of experience and could be asked to fill in. On whether it is time for England to move on from Jennings, Butcher said: "Absolutely. For his sake, as much as anything else. People that have seen him play a lot more than I have in county cricket say, when he is on, he's a fabulous player - so it's in there somewhere. But at the minute … and it's destroying him and not helping the team out."
While Rory Burns' second-innings 84 was a positive amid the rubble, there were continuing doubts about Keaton Jennings, who made scores of 17 and 14 and was twice caught edging drives. Although Jennings has scored two Test hundreds, both in Asia, he has had difficulties against pace bowling - a weakness likely to be probed by West Indies through the series, if he retains his place. England's other option in the squad is Joe Denly, who is uncapped but has plenty of experience and could be asked to fill in. On whether it is time for England to move on from Jennings, Butcher said: "Absolutely. For his sake, as much as anything else. People that have seen him play a lot more than I have in county cricket say, when he is on, he's a fabulous player - so it's in there somewhere. But at the minute … and it's destroying him and not helping the team out."
Root revival can help solve batting muddle
Another minor statistical outcome from defeat at Kensington Oval was the captain, Joe Root, seeing his batting average drop below 50 for the first time since the summer of 2014, following scores of 4 and 22. A misfiring top order has increased the pressure on him, but nothing would help England more than Root rediscovering his touch. "He needs to start playing innings that elevate him above the quagmire of the rest of the batting in the line-up," Butcher said. "That's how important he is, and that's how good he needs to be in order to drag these guys along with him. For now that's not happening, he's not been able to find that within himself. But that's what England need."
Another minor statistical outcome from defeat at Kensington Oval was the captain, Joe Root, seeing his batting average drop below 50 for the first time since the summer of 2014, following scores of 4 and 22. A misfiring top order has increased the pressure on him, but nothing would help England more than Root rediscovering his touch. "He needs to start playing innings that elevate him above the quagmire of the rest of the batting in the line-up," Butcher said. "That's how important he is, and that's how good he needs to be in order to drag these guys along with him. For now that's not happening, he's not been able to find that within himself. But that's what England need."