Alastair Cook declared his Test side ready to take on Pakistan next month, with the England captain encouraged by both the manner of the 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka and performances of three individuals who are striving to prove themselves at international level.
Cook’s opening partner, Alex Hales, returned 292 runs and struck three half-centuries to quell some doubts that followed a tough baptism in South Africa over the winter, while Chris Woakes stepped up for the injured Ben Stokes in the last two Tests to bowl with pace, claim eight wickets at 18 runs apiece, and register a maiden Test half-century.
The form of Jonny Bairstow, who averaged 129 with the bat, earned him the man-of-the-match and series awards plus praise from his captain, even if Cook, who now takes a short break from cricket before returning to prepare for the first of four Tests with Pakistan at Lord’s on 14 July, accepts his wicketkeeping remains a work in progress.
“Pakistan have a very good bowling attack but we are ready to play them,” said Cook. “We scored a lot of runs against a very good Australia attack last year and I think it is going to be a brilliant series. We are heading in the right direction as a side.
“Alex Hales has tightened up his game from South Africa and learned about Test cricket. It’s great when you see someone who doesn’t quite nail it, but goes away and works away at it, come back a person who understands more about Test cricket.
“Chris Woakes, as well, has really impressed me. He’s different to Ben Stokes and while not as dynamic, he is certainly very effective, bowling with pace and accuracy. He made some really big strides and that is great for our squad. We know how Ben balances the side but he can too. Jonny Bairstow winning the man of the series was a brilliant achievement. He is very similar to Matt Prior at his best, the way he takes the attack to the opposition. His first century in South Africa got the monkey off his back – that was very clear to see – and it’s great to see someone who works so hard get his rewards.”
Asked about Bairstow possibly playing as a specialist batsman, something the player himself is set against, Cook replied: “There is always that thought when guys score as many runs as he can. He knows he has to work hard at his keeping and a couple of chances have gone down. But you don’t become a world-class wicketkeeper overnight.”
If those three players have impressed both the captain and the selectors, then the form of Nick Compton over the first half of the summer – averaging 16.77 from 11 first-class innings – has presented a problem. Cook urged the No3 to score big runs for Middlesex before the Pakistan series, with the head coach, Trevor Bayliss, accepting a decision will need to be made. Bayliss said: “We’ll discuss Nick Compton. It’s always difficult when a player is struggling. He’s a hard worker and he’ll give himself every chance to score runs.”
Attention now switches to limited-overs cricket, with England naming their one-day and Twenty20 squads to face Sri Lanka immediately after the Lord’s Test was abandoned. The standout selections came for the latter, with the Middlesex opener Dawid Malan – who shone for the Lions during the winter – and the Sussex left-armer Tymal Mills – considered the fastest bowler on the county circuit – lined up for international debuts.
Hales, Moeen Ali and Joe Root, who will feature in the five-match one-day series that begins at Trent Bridge on 21 June, are to be rested for the one-off Twenty20 in Southampton on 5 July, with Sri Lanka first playing two one-day internationals against Ireland in Malahide on Thursday and Saturday this week.
On the selection of Mills, Bayliss, said: “I have only seen him once when he bowled against us in practice in South Africa but the reaction of the batsmen said enough – they were lining up to get in the spinners net. He gives us something different, he has pace, left-arm and has been bowling well. It will be exciting to see what he’s got.”
England squad for one-day international series v Sri Lanka:
E Morgan (Middlesex, capt), M Ali (Worcestershire), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), J Buttler (Lancashire), S Finn (Middlesex), C Jordan (Sussex), A Hales (Nottinghamshire), L Plunkett (Yorkshire), A Rashid (Yorkshire), J Root (Yorkshire), J Roy (Surrey), J Vince (Hampshire), D Willey (Yorkshire), C Woakes (Warwickshire).
England squad for Twenty20 international v Sri Lanka:
E Morgan (Middlesex, capt), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), S Billings (Kent), J Buttler (Lancashire), L Dawson (Hampshire), C Jordan (Sussex), Malan (Middlesex), T Mills (Sussex), L Plunkett (Yorkshire), A Rashid (Yorks), J Roy (Surrey), J Vince (Hampshire), D Willey (Yorkshire).
