Predicting the England Test XI a Year from Now
Some might think that trying to guess what the England Test team will look like in a year's time is a straightforward task. But compare the XIs that lined up for the first clash of the 2013/14 Ashes series and the side that finished the 2014 summer:
England vs. Australia at Brisbane on the November 21, 2013: Cook, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root, Prior, Broad, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson.
England vs. India at the Oval on the August 15, 2014: Cook, Robson, Ballance, Bell, Root, Ali, Buttler, Woakes, Jordan, Broad, Anderson.
In just nine months there were six changes!
Of course, the mauling by the Aussies over the winter initiated unprecedented upheaval in the England team but with Mitchell Johnson and Co. due to visit on the back of a potentially disastrous World Cup...who is to say it won't happen again?
With that in mind and utilising a little creative license, here is a possible 11 who could be walking out to face Pakistan in October 2015.
1. Alex Hales
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Imagine the scene: A disastrous World Cup sees Alastair Cook stripped of the ODI captaincy and then an embarrassing home defeat to the Australians forces a tearful resignation as Test skipper.
While his England career isn't over, Cook takes some time off allowing Nottinghamshire's Alex Hales a crack at one of the opener spots.
Although his red-ball statistics aren't overly impressive—he averages 36.65 in first-class cricket—Hales' performances in Twenty20 internationals suggest he is more-than-comfortable in the limelight.
And the 25-year-old's naturally aggressive style could do for England what the likes of David Warner, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle have done for their respective countries at the top of the order.
2. Adam Lyth
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Despite scoring a ton against Sri Lanka, Sam Robson has failed to fully secure his England place with a perceived weakness just outside off-stump putting his position under threat.
And waiting in the wings, off the back of a stellar season for County Championship winners' Yorkshire, is Adam Lyth.
The left-hander was the leading first-class run scorer in the English domestic season with 1,489 runs at an average of 67.68 and looks to have the sort of well-balanced, all-round game that could thrive in international cricket.
Keep an eye on his performances for the England Lions over the winter.
3. Gary Ballance
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If one batsman looked like he was dropping anchor for a long and successful England career in 2014 then it was Gary Ballance.
The calm and assured Zimbabwe-born strokemaker is clearly at home at the top level and has already raised his bat to celebrate three Test match tons.
With an average 60.75 and an unflappable temperament, Ballance is a good bet to be England's leading run scorer in next summer's Ashes.
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4. Ian Bell
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Although he will be pushing 34, Ian Bell should still be around, making fans purr with his easy-on-the-eye stroke play and graceful drives.
And if Alastair Cook does indeed get the chop, then the Warwickshire man might well be next in line for the top job.
The vastly experienced batsman possesses a good cricket brain and has captained his county, Warwickshire, on brief occasions when England have had a gap in their schedule.
5. Joe Root
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Alongside Gary Ballance, Joe Root is the future of England and averages over 50 from 40 Test innings so far.
The 23-year-old has already had to battle back from some early setbacks after failing to nail down an opener's role.
But Root has found a home in the middle order and, if he can maintain his spot for the next decade or so, could go on to break numerous run scoring records.
6. Kevin Pietersen
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Yes, he's back! Despite the daily scandals caused by Kevin Pietersen's recently released book, realistically it wouldn't take too much for the author, Tweeter, businessman and sometime cricketer to return to the side.
If England fail miserably in 2015, Paul Downton's position at the top of the ECB will come under heavy pressure and the door could reopen for KP.
But whether England's leading Test run scorer of all time can put himself in a position to be selected is another question, after effectively wasting this summer playing just a handful of T20 games rather than scoring masses of runs for Surrey.
7. Jos Buttler
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Big Cheese who? Jos Buttler has shown his aptitude for the big stage on numerous occasions and looks set to have a long international career in front of him.
Some have pointed the finger at the young wicketkeeper's glovework, but this is improving while his spectacular batting needs no introduction.
If he can have a successful World Cup and a swashbuckling Ashes series, Buttler could become one of the biggest stars of cricket for years to come.
8. Adil Rashid
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Moeen Ali has started his England career promisingly, but it isn't hard to predict Australia will earmark his off-breaks for special treatment next summer.
And former "wonderkid" Adil Rashid could be next in line. The 26-year-old was tipped for great things at a very early age and, like many before him, struggled to live up to the hype.
But this season has seen the Yorkshire all-rounder really come to the fore, and with 374 wickets under his belt already he must be comfortable with his game.
Rashid's useful batting—he averages over 35 in first-class cricket—would also add depth to England's batting line-up.
9. Chris Jordan
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Another success story from the summer of 2014 for England was Chris Jordan, who made a very impressive start to his international career.
As well as his pace bowling and useful late-order batting, the 26-year-old's athletic fielding makes him a valuable asset.
To completely cement his place in the side, especially with the likes of Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett operating in similar roles, Jordan could do with more wickets, but they should come as he gets more and more comfortable with the big stage.
10. Stuart Broad
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At the age of 28, Stuart Broad already has 264 wickets, and the chances are high that he'll be around for a few more years yet.
The Notts ace has been embroiled in a number of controversies over his career, including his infamous decision not to walk when clearly edging behind against Australia in the Ashes.
But there's no denying his ability to run through a side with the ball when he gets in the zone. Given that he is the current T20 captain also, he is a future captaincy candidate.
11. Matt Dunn
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Hopefully Jimmy Anderson will still be around in a year's time, but let's play devil's advocate and pretend he has broken down with injury...not an impossible scenario.
Who is the next fast bowler in line for England duty? Steven Finn, Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes are in the driving seat at the moment but things change very quickly. Just ask Chris Tremlett.
So keep an eye on Surrey's Matt Dunn, a very exciting and genuine pace bowler who has been named in England's 2014 winter Performance Programme squad.
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