England Cricket / Editor / 10 May 2007 /

A new era - England assessed

England, like many other teams after the World Cup, are entering a new era. New coach Peter Moores takes over a team that is at low ebb in the One Day arena, but he must first confront the task of restoring the impressive Test performances that characterised much of Duncan Fletcher's seven years in charge.

The former Sussex man cannot have hoped for a better starting point. The only way is up after the Ashes drubbing and lacklustre World Cup campaign, while a home series against the West Indies is, on paper at least, nearly as easy as Test contests can get. The newly arrived tourists lost 16 and drawn three of their last 19 overseas Tests.

The likely absence of Michael Vaughan from the first Test will only add to the feeling that a new England team is developing. Although Vaughan has been absent from the Test arena since December 2005, deputies Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss were only ever keeping the captaincy hot-seat warm; should Paul Collingwood take the reins with Moores, we might be seeing a sneak preview of the future England management team.

England are in the midst of a rebuilding job, as few pillars of the 2005 Ashes victory look like featuring at Lord's next Thursday. Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen only have temporary injury worries, but Ashley Giles, Simon Jones and Marcus Trescothick must fear for their long-term futures, especially if their replacements perform well. Geraint Jones is also currently out of the frame.

Trescothick has enjoyed a prolific start to the domestic season with Somerset - three matches have brought 504 runs at an average of 84 - and he possesses an excellent home record against the West Indies. He began his Test career with an assured half century in 2000 and averages 46.27 on home soil against them. He hit two centuries in a match during their last visit in 2004.

England missed the big left hander's opening contributions Down Under, but neither he nor the selectors believe he is ready for a recall. Owais Shah seems the favourite to step in for Vaughan and the balance of the side might be under consideration.

Strauss, Collingwood, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell are assured of their places, which would create a top six with Flintoff, should Pietersen fail to recover from his calf tear. However, Flintoff's poor form with the bat might prompt England to drop him down the order and go with a four-man attack.

'Freddie' has not hit a century in 28 innings since the 2005 Ashes and his confidence with the bat seemed to be at an all time low during the World Cup. A demotion down the order would favour the selections of Paul Nixon over Matthew Prior and Ravi Bopara over another top order batsman. Four specialist bowlers would reduce the pressure on the wicket keeper for runs but require the selection of a top six batsman able to contribute with the ball.

The former vice-captain is not alone in leaving his best form in 2005. England have won just five of their 18 Tests played since regaining the urn in September of that year, and one of those victories was as a result of a forfeit by Pakistan last summer. England won 14 of their 18 Tests played before that Ashes series.

Seven of those 14 wins came against the West Indies, so the hosts are unsurprisingly strong favourites to retain the Wisden Trophy. They trade at 1.28 to win the series, with an away win available at 10, and 7.6 the draw.

England have won ten and drawn two of the last 12 meetings between the sides, although they still trail in the overall head-to-head statistics, by 52 wins to 38. A 4-0 series win - currently on offer at 5 - would pull the hosts level on wins achieved in England. The West Indies lead that table by 29 wins to 25.

Despite failing to progress form the Ashes win in 2005, England still have an impressive recent record at home. The last four years have brought 19 wins, five draws and just four defeats. Two of those came at Lord's, so the new coach must have his team ready for the series opener at Headquarters.

A major component of that success was Steve Harmison and he more than anyone must be hoping for a fresh start in the new regime. He suffered a terrible tour to Australia, opening with that horror delivery at Brisbane and ending with the announcement of his ODI retirement.

The Durham paceman has taken 15 wickets at 14.4 in the County Championship so far this season and will be keen to continue his rehabilitation against his favourite international opponents. Harmison has taken 40 wickets in eight matches against the West Indies, at an average of 21.1.

He will share the new ball with Matthew Hoggard, who also enjoys facing the boys from the Caribbean. He took a hat-trick against them in Barbados in April 2004 and has 29 wickets from nine appearances overall. Hoggard needs two wickets to overtake Alec Bedser and enter the top six in England's all-time wicket-taking charts.

There will be one more fast bowling berth up for grabs if England go with Flintoff at number six. James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett and Stuart Broad are the likely contenders, with Broad possibly at the front of the queue by default. The others all suffered disappointing tours to Australia and the Caribbean over the winter and the Leicestershire man also offers more with the bat.

The new Coach and selection panel must be hoping that the era they usher in next week will not be characterised by the injuries and selection dilemma they currently face. Maintaining an excellent recent record against the West Indies would be the perfect start.

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