London: England’s meeting to select the squad for the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia is expected to be straightforward, as stated by head coach Brendon McCullum. The team, slated to be announced in the week commencing September 22, is considered largely settled, with discussions mainly revolving around the second spinner position behind first-choice Shoaib Bashir.
According to BBC, the England team will first head to Dublin for three T20 matches against Ireland starting Wednesday, under the guidance of assistant coach Marcus Trescothick, as McCullum will not be present. The squad for the Australian tour will be announced the following week after the Ireland series concludes next Sunday.
McCullum confirmed that Jamie Smith will be the primary wicketkeeper, with Ollie Pope as the backup. The team could include up to seven specialist seamers, expanding the squad to 17 players. Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue are expected to be selected, possibly alongside Matthew Potts and another pace bowler. Rehan Ahmed is the frontrunner for the role of Bashir’s backup, although Liam Dawson, who participated in the final two Tests against India, remains a contender.
McCullum emphasized the ease of the selection process, highlighting the stability of the squad. He mentioned the challenges posed by the lengthy tour and the need to manage breaks between Tests effectively. He expressed excitement about the preparations and the upcoming series.
The England Lions team will accompany the senior squad to Australia, providing support and competing in a pre-Ashes warm-up match before the first Test in Perth. Additionally, some Test players might participate in a white-ball series in New Zealand as part of their Ashes preparation.
McCullum also addressed the role of vice-captain, currently held by Pope, and the possibility of Harry Brook, who has emerged as a leader and taken on the role of white-ball captain, succeeding Ben Stokes as Test skipper. However, no decision on England’s number three batsman will be made before the team arrives in Australia.
Stokes is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the final Test against India. While his progress is promising, fitness concerns have plagued him in recent series. McCullum assured that England has contingency plans should Stokes face further injury issues in Australia.
Additionally, England must finalize their coaching staff for the Ashes tour. With James Anderson and Tim Southee unavailable, McCullum is in discussions with potential candidates to fill the fast-bowling consultant role.