The ECB has announced the first 15-man squad for the summer, and there are a few surprise names in it.
Stokes (c) Fisher
Ahmed Gay
Atkinson Rew
Baker Robinson
Bethall Smith
Brook Tongue
Duckett
Rehan Ahmed is a surprise inclusion; he hasn’t had the best of starts to the summer with the bat or the ball. He hasn’t even played any cricket for the last few weeks after he took an IPL deal with the Delhi Capitals. It would be nice to see Ahmed play Test match cricket in the country after he impressed in Pakistan during his debut series. Ahmed also offers England an option with the bat at number 8 if he isn’t required to bowl.
Sonny Baker is another surprise pick. He has bowled well for Hampshire on some very placid pitches this summer. His speeds have been good too, and with Jofra Archer not in the squad, he could offer England the express pace option if they want to go down that road again.
Matthew Fisher is a name that I don’t quite understand. I know he was called into the Ashes squad as a replacement over the winter, and he has played for the England Lions over the last couple of years, but I just don’t understand how 11 wickets for Surrey at an average of 40 can get you anywhere near the Test squad. I think Sam Cook would have been a better option. He’s taken 23 wickets at an average of 20 this summer for Essex and always asks questions with the new ball, not as quick as Fisher, but more accurate if you ask me.
I don’t think Fisher will make the final XI, so he could just be in the side as bowling cover.
Ollie Robinson returns for the first time since 2024, and at 32 years old, his selection shows that England are prepared to look back at players they’ve tried before. I expect Robinson to share the new ball with either Atkinson or Tongue.
Robinson has bowled well for Sussex this summer and deserves his recall. He is also capable of lower-order runs, which is always a bonus.
Shoaib Bashir returns to the spin bowling department, which is another surprise. I know the selectors are not particularly blessed in this department at the moment, but it is a massive U-Turn considering Bashir didn’t bowl a ball in the Ashes and has hardly been pulling up trees for Derbyshire in Division 2 this summer. The fact that they’ve selected two spinners says to me that they don’t quite know the make-up of their squad yet. Bashir has bowled plenty of overs this summer, so he must be in rhythm, but he is just a bowler and can’t offer you anything with the bat.
I think England will pick a spinner for the first test match because why have two in your squad if you aren’t going to play one? Does England pick the man who’s currently playing and bowling, or the man who’s a better batter but not playing at all?
James Rew and Emilo Gay have been selected after some strong early-season form. The selection of Gay implies that he’ll open the batting with Duckett.
Rew may have to wait his turn for now, but I do not think that this is a bad thing. He should now make the England Lions squad for the summer, where he has the opportunity to go out and score more runs rather than just carrying the drinks for the test side. It would be a huge waste if Rew ended up on drinks duty; he’s just too good a player not to be playing.
Jamie Smith keeps his place after a strong start to the summer for Surrey. He now needs to remind everyone of his abilities in the international arena once again.
Jacob Bethall will have little time to adjust to red ball cricket when he returns from the IPL, but I think his selection is justified following his strong performances in the Ashes when he finally replaced Ollie Pope in the side.
My XI for the 1st test match from the above squad
Duckett Stokes (c)
Gay Atkinson
Bethall Robinson
Root Tongue
Brook Bashir
Smith (wk)
