Last update:02 November 2024, 2:38 p.m. IST

England will face New Zealand in a three-match Test series which begins on November 28 in Christchurch.

Nasser Hussain wants Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope to prove their worth in New Zealand. (Photo credit: AFP)

Despite mixed performances in England’s recent Test series in Pakistan, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope retained their places in the squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, but former England cricketer Nasser Hussain warned both batters not to “get too comfortable”. citing their recent test form.

The series, which begins on November 28, will test England’s resilience and depth, as the selectors continue to emphasize an aggressive style under head coach Brendon McCullum and by Captain Ben Stokes. To further add to the intrigue, all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been called up, while Jamie Smith will miss the tour while awaiting the arrival of his first child.

Hussain underlined the message England’s coaches are sending to Crawley and Pope, two key players who have struggled in Pakistan. Hussain noted that while England are committed to maintaining a competitive edge, Crawley and Pope must improve their form to avoid complacency. “England selected very well. People from the last couple of years, random picks, came in and they all did really well and looked like really good cricketers,” Hussain told the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.

“You didn’t look at any of them and wonder, ‘Well, why did England pick him?’ They all seemed like good choices and performed straight away. But will they ever go back? It can’t be a closed shop. I’d like to keep pushing Crawley and Pope to say, ‘You know what? Keaton Jennings gets some points or (Haseeb) Hameed gets some. now a few or Rory Burns gets a lot over the summer. Your place is not granted forever.”

Ollie Pope, England’s vice-captain, particularly struggled in Pakistan, averaging just 11 runs and a high score of 29 in the entire series. Crawley showed flashes of promise, including a solid 78-run knock in Multan, although he was unable to convert his starts consistently as England fell to a 2-1 series defeat. Despite these challenges, Stokes defended his top order, regarding it as England’s best – a stance which some interpreted as a show of faith in the midst of a difficult tour.

Atherton weighed in on Bethell’s selection, expressing mixed feelings about the call. On the one hand, Bethell’s inclusion reflects the selectors’ desire to focus on emerging talents; on the other, it raises questions about England’s depth if a player with a first-class average of just 25 is added to the squad. “Going back to the Bethell selection, you can look at it two ways. You can say he’s the child superstar of the future that they’re absolutely betting the whole house on,” Atherton added.

“They think he’s going to be a fantastic player and they’ll be judged on that. And maybe that’s true. A lot of their picks have been really good.

“But you could also say then, well, if they have to pick someone who has an average of 25 after 20 first-class matches and hasn’t scored a first-class hundred, what’s the Is there anything else?”

Bethell’s inclusion continues England’s trend of injecting youthful energy into the squad. Talents like Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir have made an impression recently, particularly during the Pakistan tour, and Bethell now has the opportunity to attract the attention of the selectors. England chief executive Rob Key recently underlined this focus on young talent, unveiling a list of 29 centrally contracted players, with Will Jacks, Olly Stone, Phil Salt and Bashir joining the list.

The recently released contract list also reflects significant changes. While Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler signed extensions to their two-year contracts, Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson were notably omitted. The decision to leave out Robinson, despite his impressive track record, sparked questions from fans and analysts.

Hussain described this as a potential “wake-up call” for Robinson, challenging the bowler to maintain his edge. “With his talent, I would be very disappointed if he didn’t don the England jersey again,” Hussain said, highlighting Robinson’s importance to the Test setup.

The introduction of multi-year contracts, including extensions for Stokes and Buttler, has also attracted scrutiny. Atherton expressed reservations, suggesting that in the fast-paced world of cricket, such long contracts can be detrimental to motivation. “It is essential that players stay motivated, especially in a demanding sport,” he noted, while acknowledging that the move likely helps counter the lure of franchise leagues. Hussain echoed those sentiments, singling out Mark Wood as a player who benefits from stability. but also faces the temptations of lucrative T20 leagues.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – IANS)

Location :

London, United Kingdom (UK)