Joe Root ready for break before revisiting England’s bowling selection dilemmas

England captain Joe Root is planning to enjoy a well-deserved break before revisiting some increasingly-difficult selection dilemmas in the fast bowling department.
After rotating options throughout the 2-1 series win over the West Indies, England are likely to begin the Pakistan series in a week’s time with some familiar questions.
Stuart Broad was omitted from the first Test of the summer but appears effectively undroppable after harvesting 16 wickets at 10.93 in the next two, passing 500 career scalps along the way, while Chris Woakes ended the series on supreme form with figures of five for 50.
A series that was about much more than cricket.
Thank you @windiescricket 👏 pic.twitter.com/NeBTL3kski
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 28, 2020
Throw in the country’s record wicket-taker, James Anderson, alongside Jofra Archer and the rested duo of Sam Curran and Mark Wood, and the issue is increasingly tricky.
Root’s primary focus is on winning matches, but looking after egos in the unusually-restrictive behind-closed-doors environment and managing workloads in a congested schedule mean there are plenty of balls to juggle before the start of the Pakistan series on August 5.
“As we’ve seen it’s hard to leave anyone out – just look at the players that haven’t played this game,” said Root.
“With the talent that’s waiting in the wings it’s an exciting place to be and long may those headaches continue.
“I think for now it’s just important that everyone just goes away, has some time away from cricket, away from this bubble and tries not to think about things for a couple of days.
🏴 2️⃣–1️⃣ 🌴
England win the Wisden Trophy in its final outing 🏆 #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/LSbPiNmMfk
— ICC (@ICC) July 28, 2020
“Towards the back end of the week we’ll start getting our heads around the challenges that the next three games will pose for us and hope to have some clarity on the way we want to go.
“It’s vitally important that the guys enjoy the next four or five days and really make the most of that time away, time at home with loved ones.
“We’ve all been very excited about getting home and spending that time refreshing and getting away, so hopefully when we all come back we’ll be ready to to crack on with another very exciting series.”
Latest
-
England
England batter Harry Brook believes he is a more powerful hitter than in 2022
Brook was the star performer during day one of England’s Test warm-up against a New Zealand XI in Hamilton.
-
England
Harry Brook smashes 97 as England pile on runs in New Zealand warm-up clash
The tourists racked up 465 all out in just 69.2 overs.
-
England
Harry Brook hits nine sixes en route to 97 as England start New Zealand tour
Captain Ben Stokes opted not to take the field, allowing Ollie Pope to lead the side instead.
-
Women's Cricket
England quartet enter WPL auction at top £50,000 base price
Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Danni Wyatt are among 24 players at the maximum reserve.
-
England
England spinner Jack Leach ‘having too much fun to get ill now’
The Somerset spinner was hospitalised the last time he toured New Zealand with England.
-
Women's Cricket
Sarah Glenn hopes aggressive mindset helps England do ‘something really special’
Jon Lewis’ squad play their final warm-up against New Zealand in Cape Town.
-
England
Michael Vaughan set to be only charged individual to appear at racism hearing
A hearing has been confirmed to take place between March 1 and 9.
-
New Zealand
Kyle Jamieson hoping for more exciting cricket as Brendon McCullum returns to NZ
England face New Zealand in a two-Test series.
-
Australia
Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch retires from international cricket
The 36-year-old skippered Australia in 76 T20 internationals, more than any other men’s player.
-
England
On this day in 2017: Sir Alastair Cook steps down as England Test captain
Cook’s 59 Tests in charge made him the nation’s longest-serving captain at the time.