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Matthew Potts could be handed a spot in England’s main Ashes squad when Rob Key and the selectors finalise their plans for Australia. While the head coach, Brendon McCullum, has said to expect few surprises after a settled period for the Test side, Jamie Overton’s withdrawal from first-class cricket – plus uncertainty over the fitness of Chris Woakes – does mean there are final decisions to be made this week as regards the seamers.
The core of this group picks itself, with Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue all considered bankers – none are expected to play the final round of the County Championship – and optimism that Mark Wood is on track for a return after undergoing knee surgery in March.
The question then is whether to add one or two extra quicks as further cover, albeit with the Lions also in Australia for the first four weeks of the tour. Potts, who withdrew from England’s recent T20 internationals to rediscover his red-ball form with Durham, is one name under discussion.
The 26-year-old won the most recent of his 10 Test caps in New Zealand last December and struggled in the first half of the county season. “He has ticked a lot of boxes,” said Durham’s head coach, Ryan Campbell, regarding Potts’s recent exploits, while confirming he will play against Yorkshire on Wednesday.
Much may hinge on Woakes, who has led the attack since the retirement of Jimmy Anderson and was considered a likely tourist before dislocating his shoulder in the fifth Test against India. The 36-year-old opted against surgery, and rehabilitation is going well, but would clearly remain a risk.
As well as serving as England’s warmup opposition in Perth before the first Test starts on 21 November, the Lions will play two matches in Australia. While Sonny Baker, Eddie Jack and Mitch Stanley are expected to be among the Lions seamers, there is scope for those in the senior squad to get game time this way.
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Before then comes a white-ball tour of New Zealand, which gets under way in Christchurch on 18 October and may well have significant crossover with the Test personnel. All three squads could be named at the same time.
A coach who likes a tight unit without too many bodies, McCullum has already confirmed that Ollie Pope will also serve as the backup Test wicketkeeper in Australia. Jacob Bethell is expected to be the extra batter in the squad with a chance to challenge Pope for his No 3 spot from the outset.
Another place under consideration is that of second spinner to Shoaib Bashir. Rehan Ahmed is shaping up as the favourite, with Liam Dawson, Jack Leach and possibly even Will Jacks also in the conversation.
Ben Stokes, who missed the end of the 2-2 draw with India with a shoulder injury, is back bowling in training and expected to be fit. Whether Pope or Harry Brook serves as his vice-captain is also up for discussion.
