Ashes: England squad has all bases covered; lack of focused preparation a worry

England head into the Ashes facing what can only be described as a mammoth task,  although there is a sense that this might just be their best opportunity in quite some time.  The primary reason for that optimism lies in the work that has gone into their bowling line up over the past year. For the best part of a year, England have been planning and fine tuning their attack, and for once, it appears that everything might be coming together at  just the right time. With Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson all fit and firing, the  team finally looks to have the pace and firepower it has long sought. If all goes well and  injuries stay at bay, England’s pace arsenal could well be their trump card. 

There is also Josh Tongue, who has impressed recently, giving England yet another viable  option with the ball. It means that England are heading into the series with a number of  fast-bowling options, and that depth could prove crucial. With the new ball, in particular,  England’s approach is likely to define how the series begins. If the decision were up to me,  I would go with Archer, Wood, and Atkinson as the frontline pace trio, and, assuming Ben  Stokes is fully fit to bowl — which seems to be the case — he would serve as the fourth  seamer. That combination, along with Shoaib Bashir as the spinner, forms a balanced and  potent attack. 

There has been some chatter about whether Bashir was the right choice as the lead  spinner, considering that England also have Liam Dawson, and Rehan Ahmed in  contention, as well as the experienced Jack Leach. But in truth, investing in Bashir seems  the right call. The management has shown faith in him and backed him for some time now,  and while it remains to be seen if this particular series will be the one where he truly comes  good, there is enough belief that he will justify that investment sooner rather than later. For  that reason alone, Bashir should start the series. So that would be my bowling line-up — Archer, Wood, Atkinson, Stokes, and Bashir. 

Not to forget, there is Will Jacks as well in the squad and his role in the series could expand  significantly if England anticipate conditions that won’t favour traditional spin. As a gifted  all-round option, he provides both batting depth and a flexible spin-bowling alternative. 

As for the batting, it more or less picks itself, with the exception of one position that  remains a point of discussion — number three. The question there is whether England stick  with Ollie Pope or hand an opportunity to Jacob Bethel. For me, it would be Bethel, but for  the team management, it is likely to remain Pope. They have shown loyalty to Pope, and 

despite his recent removal as vice-captain, that decision should not be seen as a reflection  of his batting ability. Rather, it appears to be more about team balance and leadership  distribution. Harry Brook, for instance, has emerged as a strong voice in the dressing room,  and his presence has perhaps reshaped some of those leadership roles. 

Still, it feels clear that Pope will retain the number three position, although I personally  believe that Bethel represents the future. Technically, Bethel looks more solid than Pope at  the moment, and he gives the impression of being someone who could make that position  his own in due course. His technique and temperament stand out, and even if England  decide not to play him immediately, his time will certainly come. 

At the top of the order, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett look settled and will continue their  partnership. Joe Root remains, as ever, the key figure in England’s batting order — much  like Steve Smith for Australia. His role will be central to England’s success, given his  experience and ability to adapt to different conditions.  

Harry Brook, too, will be one to watch closely. The way he plays — with aggression and  intent — will make for an enthralling contest against Australia’s bowling attack. Neither  side will take a backward step in that battle. Brook will go hard, and the Australian bowlers  will respond in kind, making for one of the more fascinating individual duels of the series. Brook will likely face a sustained short-ball test from the Australian quicks, and watching  how he adjusts his game to that challenge could be one of the most intriguing subplots of  the series. 

Then there’s Ben Stokes, whose presence at number six is pivotal not just for his batting  but also for his bowling. His fitness will have a huge bearing on how balanced England’s  side looks. If he is able to play as the fourth seamer, that allows England the flexibility they  need — much like how Cameron Green provides balance for Australia. There is a certain  symmetry there, as both sides rely on their all-rounders to maintain structural balance in  their line-ups. If Green remains fit and able to bowl, it adds another layer of depth to  Australia’s attack, just as Stokes’s fitness does for England. 

Overall, England appear to be in a reasonably settled place. The side looks balanced, the  players understand their roles, and there is a sense of quiet confidence within the camp.  The main area of concern, however, lies in their preparation. There has been very little in  the way of proper red-ball build-up ahead of the Ashes. Some of the players have been in  

New Zealand, and a few have been involved in white-ball series, but none of this has really  served as deliberate Ashes preparation. Those matches were more a consequence of the  international calendar rather than strategic planning for the series.

That lack of preparation is something that could show in the early part of the series,  particularly in the first game. There’s also the question of how England’s “Bazball”  approach will evolve. It is now a more refined version of what was seen in its early days. It’s  no longer the reckless, all-out version that surprised teams two years ago, but it will still be  put to a stern test by Australia. Even with Pat Cummins expected to miss the first match,  the Australian attack remains formidable and will undoubtedly challenge England’s  methods. 

The side I would pick to start the series would be: Crawley, Duckett, Bethel, Root, Brook,  Stokes, Smith, Atkinson, Bashir, Wood, and Archer. Brydon Carse is another player who  will likely have a role to play as the series progresses. England are very keen on him — and  for good reason. He’s a wholehearted cricketer who gives everything, runs in hard, and  contributes useful runs down the order. It wouldn’t be surprising if England decided to start  with him instead of Wood in the first Test, especially given the workload management  considerations that come with a long series. But for me, the combination of Archer, Wood,  Bashir, and Atkinson would be the ideal starting attack. 

Carse will, however, remain an important figure throughout the series, especially given its  intensity. A five-match Ashes series is gruelling, and the side that starts it rarely ends with  the same eleven. That makes squad depth crucial, and England seem to have covered that  aspect well. Beyond the main squad, the presence of an A-team playing a parallel series is  

a smart move. It allows players to stay in rhythm and gives the management the option of  calling up in-form replacements as the series progresses. 

All in all, England’s plans look solid, their resources are strong, and their intent is clear. The  only lingering question is whether their limited preparation will come back to haunt them  once the first ball of the Ashes is bowled.