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England must avoid tinkering if Ashes win Down Under is realistic goal

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Getty Images

England's 3-1 series victory over South Africa was the finest achievement of Joe Root’s captaincy.

The hosts were weak, but the scale of the triumph should not be underestimated. England struggled with injury and illness and have a dismal recent record overseas, but they overcame all of that and, with a raft of young players, have the look of a team on the up.

How long ago does it seem that the players were joking that it was ‘The Cursed Tour’?

Root’s tactics and the effect of the captaincy on his batting are often questioned, but never doubt that his team play for him. Just ask Ben Stokes. “The captain always takes the stick when things don’t go well as a team,” he said. “This is Joe Root’s team from the first day he captained the side and it will be going forward.” When asked if the team viewed criticism of Root as “laughable”, Stokes responded with a prompt “yes”.

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(Getty Images)

After Centurion, where Root, Stokes (who lost 4kg in weight in a day) and others were regularly dashing from the field to the toilet, the wheels could have easily come off, and it is a significant feather in the captain’s cap that he and head coach Chris Silverwood managed to prevent that. Setting a field is just a visible part of the job.

Root’s captaincy is 39 Tests old (for context, Nasser Hussain only managed 45), and this is not the first time it has appeared to come of age. But, unlike the bits-and-pieces model that brought them success over India and Sri Lanka in 2018, this is a sustainable tactical set-up that can be tweaked depending on conditions.

England are always looking towards the Ashes, especially in Australia. That is why Ashley Giles took the unusual step of backing Root to take England that far, despite the series being two years and 25 Tests away. The Ashes are not even in the current World Test Championship cycle. England want to win both, but know that it is an away Ashes win that would endure. Australia have made a documentary about getting a draw last summer, for goodness’ sake.

Ashes focus is also why Zak Crawley and the Doms, Bess and Sibley, are being sent to Australia in 10 days’ time to play three four-day games for the Lions. In that quest to succeed in Australia, this was a promising tour. England’s top order suddenly appears solid and deep, with Rory Burns to slot back in. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer are genuine pace options. They need to develop Jack Leach or Bess into the sort of spinner who does not get clouted in Australia, as Moeen Ali did in 2017/18, but plenty is going right.

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Back with a bang: Mark Wood (Getty Images)

The trouble is that the Ashes are a long way off, and preparing solely for Australia is at cross purposes with their next two overseas assignments: two Tests in Sri Lanka in March and five in India in 12 months’ time.

Clearly, a different approach is required and England face a tricky balance when picking their squad. Ben Foakes will surely come in for Jos Buttler, while Bess and Leach will be part of the bowling attack. Moeen may yet tour, but that seems unlikely.

But England should not take their tweaking too far. Keaton Jennings has been tipped for a recall in Asia, where he has two centuries and an average of 44. Given he is also a strong character and fine short leg fielder, it is no surprise that he would be discussed. There are Championship points up for grabs, and specialism is trendy.

Word is, though, that the appetite to parachute Jennings back into the side is waning. If he tours, it will be as a spare batsman. While Burns is injured, Jonny Bairstow is the main challenger to Joe Denly’s No3 berth.

That is the right move. To pick Jennings would be a step back for a developing team and would bring no guarantee of success. In Sri Lanka in 2018, he admitted that he swept so much because he did not trust his defence. In India, he will find life tough because the hosts are not all about spin: they currently have their greatest ever seam attack. In 12 Tests outside Asia he averages 17, with a top score of 48.

In Crawley and Sibley, England believe they have two young batsmen who have the temperament and techniques to succeed in any conditions. If they are not given the chance they have earned, how will they learn about Asia? Uncertainty over the opening position disrupts a whole team, as England have discovered over the last eight years.

Having had false dawns before, Root is trying to build something sustainable, not simply get the next job done.

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