Selection balancing act is an extra, unnecessary burden on England captain Joe Root

NICK HOWSON AT THE KIA OVAL: Stuart Broad. Jofra Archer. Olly Stone. Ben Stokes. Saqib Mahmood. As if trying to beat India isn't enough of the challenge, the skipper is having to do it with one arm tied behind his back

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Joe Root isn't fully concentrated on beating India. Not really. He can't possibly be. While trying to overcome a side who, no disrespect to New Zealand, have the most formidable line-up in Test cricket, he's having to constantly cope with managing the well-being of his England players. He has one foot in the dressing room, another in the human resources department and an eye on the treatment table.

It could be said that this is part of modern-day international cricket captaincy and that would be fair. But it is also true that he's not always able to fully devote himself to performance and against Virat Kohli's ruthless tourists that feels like a thankless task.

Throughout the whole summer, it has felt as though Root is taking on the world with one hand tied behind his back.

Jofra Archer has missed all of this season, Stuart Broad the entire of the series. Ben Stokes is taking an indefinite break. Even bowling back-ups Olly Stone and Saqib Mahmood are sidelined. Mark Wood missed the last Test and Chris Woakes has only just returned. At least Jos Buttler is available again, providing options for a middle-order licking the wounds inflicted on the fifth day by Jasprit Bumrah.

These limitations might have been manageable last summer against West Indies and Pakistan or even next when South Africa return (alongside the Kiwis) in 2022. But not this year with both World Test Championship finalists touring ahead of another duel with Australia.

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That dynamic will continue for the fifth Test at Old Trafford which inexplicably only starts on Friday (September 10).

Ollie Robinson and James Anderson have each bowled in excess of 160 overs. In the case of the Lancastrian, only five times has he delivered more overs in a Test series at home and three of those were over five. Bloodied and bruised at The Oval, his two wickets in 47 overs exposed every one of his 39 years.

"We'll see how everyone pulls up in the next couple of days and we'll make some smart decisions around that," said Root regarding his playing XI in Manchester.

"It has been a frustrating summer. Our bowling resources went from having so many to having a lot of injuries to contend with so we'll have to try and manage that as best we can and make sure we have an attack that can take 20 wickets at Old Trafford."

Specifically, on Anderson, the skipper added pointedly: "You have to weigh everything up and take everything into account and make sure he is in the right place to play a Test match but also that he feels he can get through it. 

"Even with his quality if he goes down injured he is difficult to replace not only for the rest of the game but for the winter as well. We have to be smart and make the right calls. 

"But ultimately we have to find a way of winning. It is a delicate balancing act that we will try to get right."

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James Anderson is a doubt for the fifth Test

Amid a year that has continually felt like Root has been balancing the present and the future, he'll be asked to choose between throwing everything at attempting to salvage a 2-2 draw (which would ensure England avoid successive series defeats) or resting England's best-ever bowler ahead of the winter challenges. He risks scorn whichever avenue is chosen.

"All we can do is to make sure we manage the players we've got in the squad as best as we can and then try and throw everything into the game," Root said, in what felt like an outlining of the priorities.

"It is frustrating the number of injuries we are having to try and contend with. Unfortunately, it is part and parcel of the game at the minute and the current climate that we're living in.

"We've got to make sure we do everything in the best interests of the individual players but also giving us the best chance of winning at the same time.

"It is something we've had to manage throughout the whole year. But at the same time, you look at the group of players we have got here and absolutely feel we shouldn't be in this position. 

"As well as India have played this week we still feel we should have got something out of this Test match."

Comments

Posted by Chris Coke on 07/09/2021 at 14:38

Anderson and Robinson's well-being come before trying to beat India at Old Trafford. Both Bairstow and Moeen Ali in my opinion are playing in one-day mould and Moeen is not really a top-class spin bowler. Sadly there is no one obviously better then Root as a captain but it seems he lets the game drift and is not proactive as say Vaughan or Brearley were in their prime.

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