It’s 2022 and England’s opening batsmen are no closer to providing protection to the irreplaceable Joe Root. With Root moving up a position in the batting order to number three for the West Indies tour and possibly the foreseeable future, the openers have become more critical than ever before.
Following Andrew Strauss’s retirement, 18 different specialist batsmen have featured at the top of the order for England with just Alistair Cook and Joe Root ever cementing their place in the side. With the current crop of Haseeb Hameed, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley only sharing an average partnership of just 19.06, England fans may fear they will be in for another torrid summer. Yet there is still hope for an upturn with a plethora of talent in County Championship sides across the country.
Here are some potential options that England can utilise this summer:
Alex Lees First up you have Alex Lees. The 28-year-old is averaging 39.68 over the past three summers in first class cricket and recently captained the England Lions when they played Australia A in Brisbane. Following his call up by interim head coach Paul Collingwood for the tour of the West Indies, it is likely that Lees will get a chance to open for England alongside Kent’s opener Zak Crawley. If he wants to cement his place in the side he must ensure that he takes full value of these three test matches.
James Bracey Yes, he went for a golden duck on debut for England but that doesn’t mean after just two test matches, he doesn’t deserve a second chance. Bracey may not boast the most inspiring first-class average of 34.96 but with a superb 113 off 295 balls in Brisbane for the Lions, he showed the England selectors that he can provide a platform for others.
Tom Abell Somerset’s club captain is undoubtedly a player England should at least consider for the summer. He has been a regular for Somerset in the top order since 2014 and over the past two seasons has a competent average of 39.05 with the bat. Abell can also feature with the ball having taken 53 wickets at 29.54 since his debut. For the England selectors the one big positive would be the improvement he could make to the leadership group which has come under huge criticism after a poor Ashes.
Jake Libby If the England selectors pick on form then Jake Libby is the man that should be given a chance. The 29-year-old averages 55.27 over the past two seasons including four centuries last summer. Having not been involved with the England camp it may set back his chances but England must overlook this in order to better their opportunities of winning tests. Worcestershire chairman Paul Pridgeon identified just how important Libby is with him stating: "He has become the rock that the innings has been built on many times in red-ball cricket".
Tom Lammonby Yes, he may have averaged only 19.60 last summer but it would follow suit with what England have trialed in recent years: incorporating young batters in to the set up and trying to shape them into the role. As of yet it has not seen success but that doesn't mean it won't be. Lammonby had a superb breakout 2020 in which he hit three centuries at an average of 51 and has been involved in England set ups from a young age. So if we see a solid start to the County Championship this summer from the 21-year-old then his name will certainly be in the picture.
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