Source: SkyCricket via Twitter
For a decade, England has enjoyed the privilege of having James Anderson and Stuart Broad in their bowling line-up. Anderson has cemented his legacy by surpassing Sir Ian Botham’s record for the most Test wickets by an English bowler. The 35-year-old is on track to exceed Glenn McGrath’s milestone of 563 wickets, positioning him to become the most effective seam bowler in the history of Test cricket. Broad has complemented Anderson remarkably well as a new ball bowler, surpassing Botham and reaching the 400-wicket milestone during the series against New Zealand.
Joe Root has come to depend on their extensive experience and skill. Last summer, Anderson was particularly formidable during England’s series victories over South Africa and the West Indies. Although he remained effective during the Ashes, he could not prevent England from suffering a 4-0 series defeat. Broad had difficulty finding his rhythm last season, which put additional pressure on his partner at the opposite end. Nevertheless, he rediscovered his form against New Zealand, although it still wasn’t sufficient to secure a win for the Three Lions in the series. With Anderson nearing the end of his career and Broad also in his thirties, concerns are mounting about England’s bowling attack ahead of the Ashes in 2019.
England’s bowlers, apart from Anderson and Broad, struggled during the winter months. While both senior players are expected to be available for the Ashes, Root’s side is still viewed as underdogs in the upcoming contest against Australia next year, according to the latest cricket betting odds. This highlights the urgent need for clarity over their bowling options this summer. Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Toby Roland-Jones, Steven Finn, Tom Curran, and Craig Overton will compete for roles, yet none have convincingly eased the long-standing concerns regarding the future of the attack.
Source: EnglandCricket via Twitter
Woakes has shown great promise in home Test matches and in white-ball formats around the globe. However, he has faced challenges when playing overseas with the red ball, failing to make an impact in India, South Africa, and Australia. Unless he elevates his performance, England may find it difficult to include him in overseas tours. Wood has dealt with fitness issues, which have hindered his speed. In his limited outings in Test matches, he has not been particularly effective, averaging 41.82 with 28 wickets across 11 matches. Roland-Jones seemed set to be the third seamer during the Ashes after a strong start to his career, but a back injury has sidelined him. At 30 years old, the Middlesex player does not offer the long-term solution England requires.
Curran and Overton represent the great hopes and will strive to overcome challenging beginnings to their careers at the highest level. Both debuted during the Ashes and found it tough with the ball, though they displayed resilience with the bat in the lower order. The Three Lions will need them to regain their form to alleviate the pressure on Anderson and Broad and to secure a more certain future for the team.
