How England could line up for 2024 tour of India as they’re forced to rip up bowling attack
Moeen Ali rejected coach Brendon McCullum’s attempts to persuade him to carry on playing Test cricket until England’s next series in India early next year during the final match of the Ashes at the Oval.
The 36-year-old declined, announcing he was quitting red-ball cricket for a second time at the end of the series against Australia after he came out of retirement to answer captain Ben Stokes’ SOS when first-choice spinner Jack Leach was ruled out through injury.
Moeen revealed he was asked by McCullum to extend his red-ball career for the five-match series in India starting in January while he was off the field with a groin injury on the second day of the final Ashes Test, saying: “They knew [I was retiring] from the start. Baz asked me again when I had my day off on the second day. I said no. Test cricket is the best cricket. I wish I could rewind time.”
What McCullum’s request tells us is that England’s selection for the India tour will not be simple. Indeed, the series will be the toughest examination yet for Bazball against a team who have not lost a home Test series since England won there in 2012.
Moeen’s batting flexibility, having moved from No 8 to three during the Ashes to fill in for the injured Ollie Pope, and his undoubted quality as a spinner, on show when he took three crucial wickets on the final day at the Oval to help England towards a series-levelling victory, would be valuable in India.
Without him, England will have to find another way – something that will be possible if they follow the template of their 3-0 series win in Pakistan last winter.
And it should lead to opportunities for others, namely teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who became the youngest England player to take a five-wicket haul when he starred on debut during the final Test of that Pakistan series in Karachi.
In terms of spinners, Ahmed should be joined by a fit-again Leach and Will Jacks, the Surrey all-rounder who played two of the three Tests in Pakistan.
Sam Curran’s all-round qualities – his left-arm seam and ability with the bat – could also be a viable option despite the fact he has not played a Test for two years, especially given his experience of India playing multiple IPL seasons means he knows how to succeed in sub-continental conditions. Much of that experience has been in white-ball cricket yet he has played four Tests in Sri Lanka and offers a dynamic option to McCullum and Stokes.
Spin will mainly be the order of the day in India – Ahmed, Jacks and Leach will probably play together for most of the Tests.
But Liam Dawson, another spinning all-rounder, might also be an option.
Pace will also be a valuable quality in Indian conditions, so expect Mark Wood and Josh Tongue to rotate.
England’s potential squad for 2024 tour of India
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Dan Lawrence
- Ben Stokes (captain)
- Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper)
- Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper)
- Sam Curran
- Will Jacks
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jack Leach
- Mark Wood
- Josh Tongue
- James Anderson
- Ollie Robinson
- Gus Atkinson
James Anderson’s experience and record in India – he averages 29.32 across 13 Tests – plus Ollie Robinson’s nine wickets at 21 in Pakistan last winter should see both included in the squad. Expect them to be rotated in and out of the XI.
But playing five bowlers, as was possible this summer thanks to Moeen, would mean getting rid of a batter. Pope is the potential fall guy if Stokes can be persuaded to step up to No 3, as he did during his team’s second innings at the Oval when Moeen was injured.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow – seeing off Ben Foakes – will be the remainder of the top six. But shifting Stokes to No 3 frees up a space for an all-rounder at seven, likely Curran if Chris Woakes is overlooked for the tour – entirely likely given his dire overseas record.
England might opt to pack their batting instead, retaining Pope and seeing Bairstow bat at seven as he did this summer. But given Bazball’s ability to think outside the box, don’t count on it.
