The Test match summer is approaching.
England kick off a busy nine months of red-ball cricket with a one-off game against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge from May 22, followed by five fixtures at home against India and then five away in Australia as they aim to reclaim The Ashes for the first time since 2015.
So, who should be the opening batsmen for these challenges?
Ben Duckett is a definite choice after averaging over 40 and scoring more than 2,000 runs in 28 games since his return to the team in 2022 – but the debate is open for his top-order partner due to Zak Crawley’s average of 15.14 in his last 14 Test innings.
England has high regards for Crawley and have shown great faith in him.
They have been patient with his lack of consistency because of his potential, demonstrated by an average north of 40 against Australia and his superb 189 against them in the 2023 Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford.
However, there are other players in County Championship cricket making a strong case, so maybe the Crawley-Duckett partnership is not set in stone…
Zak Crawley
Crawley, who is currently in possession, averaged just 8.66 in New Zealand late last year, with a top score of 21 in six innings and four single-digit dismissals. He has only crossed fifty once in his last eight Tests since last summer.
Despite his struggles, Crawley has performed well against Australia in the past, and England believes he can do so again in the upcoming Ashes series, which is expected to have pitches conducive to bounce and pace.
England values Zak Crawley highly, but the opener has been struggling in Test cricket recently.
Crawley’s contribution at the top of the order has been important for England under the Bazball era, giving them a head start in games even when big individual scores have eluded him.
The management is fully supportive of Crawley, and it seems unlikely that their faith in him will diminish soon. However, if his poor form persists against Zimbabwe and India, a decision may be required.
Tom Haines
Sussex’s left-handed batsman, Haines, is the leading run-scorer in County Championship Division One currently, with 449 runs across three games. He has scored two hundreds, including a knock of 174 against Surrey.
England’s director of cricket, Rob Key, has shown admiration for Haines, with his previous tweet indicating that Haines “looks a bloody good player in my humble opinion.” Haines currently holds a career average just under 40.
Rehan Ahmed
Rehan Ahmed has started opening the batting for Leicestershire in the County Championship
This could be seen as an unconventional choice, but England has been open to such selections in the past.
Rehan, a leg-spinning all-rounder, has been promoted to the opening position for Leicestershire this season and has already hit 77 off 59 balls against Derbyshire and followed it up with a 100 off 149 balls against Lancashire. His aggressive style from the opening position might appeal to England’s preferences.
Selecting Rehan as Duckett’s opening partner could also provide an opportunity to include another spinner in the team. He could even be the sole spinner if Shoaib Bashir is favored over another fast bowler – making this selection not as surprising as it may seem.
Jacob Bethell
During the New Zealand series, Bethell was a surprising addition to England’s Test squad and ended up batting at No. 3, despite not having scored a professional hundred before.
Jacob Bethell impressed at No 3 in New Zealand, so could he jump to the top of the order?
However, the 21-year-old performed admirably, scoring three half-centuries, including a 96 in his second Test while predominantly opening the innings. Across the three Tests, Bethell never batted later than the fifth over, indicating a potential for an opening role in the future.
Due to his IPL commitments with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bethell may miss out on the Zimbabwe Test, but if he secures a long-term place in the England XI, he could challenge Ollie Pope for the No. 3 spot.
Ben McKinney
Durham’s promising young talent, McKinney, aged 20, has shown immense potential by scoring a century for England Lions in Australia over the winter, followed by a notable 153 against Warwickshire in the County Championship recently.
Ben McKinney reminds Sky Sports’ Charles Dagnall of Marcus Trescothick
Speaking about McKinney, Sky Sports pundit Charles Dagnall remarked: “I know how much England like McKinney, who is tall and reminds me of Marcus Trescothick.”
“His footwork is minimal but his eyes are
