Mark Footitt Offers Options for England Both on and off the Field Ahead of Ashes

England’s announcement of their pre-Ashes training camp squad ahead of the series against Australia contained one surprise—the inclusion of uncapped Mark Footitt.

The 29-year-old left-arm seamer has taken 29 wickets for Derbyshire so far this season, and on the surface, his elevation to the squad may be a shock to some.

However, for what he brings on and off the field, it shows a level of forward thinking not often associated with English cricket, and one that will definitely give cause for optimism.

And while the camp in Spain will not involve batting and bowling sessions, it is a strong indication of the desire to integrate Footitt into the team for the coming months.

With the new ball, Footitt generates pace of upwards of 90 miles per hour and also has the ability to make the ball swing, even at that speed.

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It means he is a valuable asset, especially as arguably the fastest left-arm seamer ever produced in England.

If he is called up for any of the Test matches, he will present quite a challenge to Australia’s batsmen, especially in swing-friendly conditions.

Their right-handers may well be unsure where to stand, for fear of being trapped leg before wicket, while their left-handers could be more susceptible to an edge behind.

Meanwhile, Footitt’s elevation shows England’s desire to integrate him into the overall squad, something that may stand them in good stead as their preparations gather momentum.

Regardless of whether they pick the Derbyshire man, the home side face the prospect of Australian left-arm seamers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson roaring in against them.

Johnson will have a great deal of confidence from the mauling he handed England last time out, while Starc has been in superb form for months now in all forms of the game.

If they have Footitt on hand as a net bowler, England’s batsmen can at least get some solid preparation in beforehand, as he is very similar to his Australian counterparts.

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Of course, there is no way to replicate a match situation, but the hosts will definitely appreciate getting some idea again of what they will be facing.

Having been so traumatised by Johnson in the last series, the more help they can get before the series starts, the better.

The decision to include Footitt at this stage also indicates a new way of thinking in the England setup, led by Andrew Strauss as director of cricket and new coach Trevor Bayliss.

For years, the English were notoriously slow to come up with new ideas and new ways to combat difficult opponents, and they found themselves exposed on numerous occasions.

However, under the new regime and with captain Alastair Cook, they are becoming bolder in their direction and more inclined to try new strategies.

It has already paid off in the ongoing one-day international series against New Zealand under interim boss Paul Farbrace, and it should stand them in good stead moving forward.

The inclusion of Footitt is a small step in the right direction but shows just one facet of what is an exciting time for English cricket.