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England old boys must be at their best to help Ed Smith get off to a flyer

Back in the mix: England’s Jos Buttler has been in excellent form this year for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League: AP
Back in the mix: England’s Jos Buttler has been in excellent form this year for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League: AP

National selector Ed Smith may not finalise his new selection panel until the end of this summer but his first England team have a lot to prove this week as the Test season begins at Lord’s.

The squad joined up in London on Sunday and had their first training session together on Monday, with Jos Buttler expected to make his return to the side after starring in the IPL, yet Smith’s top team are still missing a number of key pieces. It could be months before Smith’s deputy is in place and it will also be some time before the ‘scouts’ — who will inform selection — are confirmed.

Angus Fraser and Mick Newell’s non-independent roles — they are employed by Nottinghamshire and Middlesex respectively — are being combined into one independent role (Newell may yet put his name forward for it but must leave Notts to do so), so for now they remain in place and they helped Smith and Trevor Bayliss pick this squad. Captain Joe Root has influence but no official vote on selection. In terms of playing personnel the faces remain similar. One headline call-up, Dom Bess, was rather forced on England by injuries to Jack Leach and Mason Crane, other spinners who have debuted this year, and Moeen Ali’s poor winter and lack of cricket since. Moeen may add to his 50 caps but must find form first.

Besides that it was Buttler for James Vince, a shuffle north for members of the middle order — notably with Root to three and Jonny Bairstow to five — and Mark Stoneman’s survival as opener. He is on notice and knows it.

Bess aside, the bowling has a very familiar feel. Pitch dependent Mark Wood and Chris Woakes may get a Test each against Pakistan (a green Headingley would seem to suit the latter), and both know they have much to prove.

The summer is less important for Woakes; it is known he is superb in English conditions but must perform overseas (his average is 24 at home, 61 away). Wood, meanwhile, must show he can do it in Tests at all. His numbers do not match his talent. He has never taken more than three wickets in a Test innings or more than five in a match and has 28 in his 11 Tests.

The desire to defy his fragile body is as strong as ever — it was encouraging that he returned early from the IPL to play for Durham (he picked up six for 46 in 23 second innings wickets against Derbyshire, too), and last week he spoke passionately about what he must do to take wickets.

That leaves James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who enter their 11th English summer together and remain as important as ever. They told Wisden Cricket Monthly that they hope to peak as a pair at the 2019 Ashes, while Broad wrote in the Mail on Sunday yesterday that he has never felt as confident. He has been bowling beautifully, and England will need the old boys at their best to begin Smith’s new era with a bang.