As England’s tour of West Indies rapidly approaches, there is particular interest around the Yorkshire contingent within the squad.
Over the years, there has been a growing prominence of Yorkshire representation in the England team and their touring party for the West Indies is no different. Below, we’ll be taking a look at how those with an association with the White Rose could get on over the three test match series.
Joe Root
There’s little that needs saying about Joe Root that hasn’t already been said. In 2021, Root scored 1,687 runs, the third most by any player in a calendar year. Root is now less than 3,000 off Alastair Cook’s record of test match runs.
One point of note is that coming into this series, Root has announced that he will be batting at three as opposed to his favoured position of four. Although the 30-year-old has previously expressed his reluctance at batting at three on a number of occasions, the fragility of the England batting lineup has forced his hand to an extent.
England’s lack of credible options at three, and their relative strength at four has meant that Root, probably against his wish, has had to move himself up. It will be intriguing to see whether this switch has a negative effect on Root’s form. One would think it shouldn’t really disrupt him too much given the class he has shown over the past 12 months.
Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow is arguably the most interesting of all of England’s Yorkshire contingent.
Two months ago, the majority of punters assumed that his days in the England test team were numbered. However, an Ashes century and Jos Buttler break later, and Bairstow seems to be in pole position to take the gloves in the short to immediate term. Bairstow has been in and out of the side of late.
Ollie Pope, around whom there is an incredible amount of promise, has often taken the number six spot off Bairstow but his flaky form so him dropped for Bairstow mid way through the Ashes. Jos Buttler too was far from convincing with the gloves in that series and the selection team have never been particularly sold on Ben Foakes, England’s other contender for the slot.
As such, Bairstow now has a chance to nailed that spot down. If he can string together a succession of positive performances over the three match series, his future in the team should be secured ahead of a busy summer coming up.
If England’s fortunes are to take a positive turn, someone with the capability of Bairstow will be integral so England will be hoping that he continues his form from the latter end of the Ashes.
Mathew Fisher
Amidst the furore surrounding Stuart Broad and James Anderson’s respective omissions from this England squad there were a couple of beneficiaries, one of them being Yorkshire seamer Mathew Fisher.
Fisher is the least familiar name out of everyone in the England squad. Indeed, many won’t have heard to him prior to him being selected for the tour of the Caribbean. Fisher has been around the Lions set up for a short while and has been somebody England have kept a close eye on for a few years.
Though he hasn’t been selected in the final 12 for the opening Test match, Fisher could be in with a shot for one of the next two tests as some of the other bowlers are given a rest. Even if he doesn’t get the opportunity to showcase his skills in the three test series, the experience of being in the England set up will nonetheless be an extremely valuable one for Fisher and one that he can build on for the future.
Alex Lees
Though he is no longer a member of Yorkshire’s team, Alex Lees will be a familiar face to keen followers of the county. Up until his move to Durham a couple of years ago, Lees had been at Yorkshire since he was a child.
Having averaged around 40, the lack of recognition from the England set up prompted him to move to Durham where he has thrived. His form was rewarded by a call up and it looks for all the money that he will open the batting. In the warm up game, Lees looked pretty solid on his way to a gritty half century.
Due to how unsuccessful England openers have been, if Lees can make a few meaningful contributions in this series, he could well be in line to retain his place in the side.
It will be interesting to see how the tour transpires for all of these players. What’s clear is that the depth quite quality in Yorkshire right now is probably at an all time high.