By Matt Harris From Tips News Views

Call ups for uncapped Lyth, Rashid and Wood

England’s under-fire cricketers face three test matches in the West Indies starting next month and with a number of established players rested or unavailable, it’s an adventurous 16 man squad that will travel to the Caribbean.

Focal point

After a self-imposed absence from the international set up following a stress related illness, the selectors have enough faith in Jonathan Trott to bring the Warwickshire man back into the fold. Form shouldn’t be an issue: Trott scored tons in each of his last two games for his county and this was followed by a double century with the England Lions but many supporters will be nervous and hoping that his off-field problems don’t return.

The South African born batsman will be 34 next month and is hardly one for the future but even some pro-Kevin Pietersen supporters might argue that England have missed Trott’s sticking power more than KP’s flamboyance.

The new breed

Despite making an Ashes century last year, Sam Robson’s poor overall return from seven tests sees the opener miss out with Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth taking his place. There were many candidates to replace Robson but in 2014, Lyth made six centuries with an average just under 70 and his claims were clearly impossible to ignore.

Lyth’s Yorkshire lifted the first division championship in 2014 so perhaps it makes perfect sense to pack your side with players from the best county in the country. Of the 16 names, six Yorkshiremen are present with Adil Rashid also expected to win his first cap after an impressive season with bat and ball.

Joe Root, Liam Plunkett and Gary Ballance are all included but perhaps the one surprise is Jonny Bairstow who averages just 26.95 with the bat from 24 test innings and is still perceived to be weak against the short pitched ball.

Out of left field

The one real surprise in this party is the inclusion of Durham’s Mark Wood. At 25, the bowler is seen as a late developer but his return from the latest Lions tour was a disappointing four wickets at 53.25.

With James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan and Plunkett in the side, Wood is likely to be restricted to a drinks carrying role but it still seems an odd selection.

Elsewhere, James Tredwell has a chance to avoid becoming a noted member of the One Cap Wonders. The Kent man made a solitary test appearance against Bangladesh in 2010 but is included as the one specialist spinner.

The full squad reads:

A Cook, A Lyth, J Trott, G Ballance, J Root, I Bell, B Stokes, J Buttler, J Bairstow, A Rashid, L Plunkett, S Broad, J Anderson, C Jordan, M Wood, J Tredwell.

England begin their three test tour in Antigua with the first match starting on April 13th.

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