Change is in the air in the Caribbean, where England will look to defy form and history as their much-trumpeted post-Ashes reset gets underway in Antigua tomorrow.
England begin the series in a state of flux, having fired most of their support staff, and under huge pressure, having dumped their two leading wicket-takers of all-time in James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
They also have a horrible record in the Caribbean and will hope a change to the name of trophy they play for – now the Richards-Botham Trophy – will bring a change in fortunes.
England have often looked stronger than the West Indies and, perhaps – despite everything – it is easy to fall into the same trap, given the hosts’ unproven batting. But talk of the demise of Test cricket in the Caribbean can be overstated, and they always seem to find another gear when England – and the vast crowds they bring with them – are in town.
Since 1967, England have won in the Caribbean just once, a memorable victory for one of their great teams in 2004. Too often since they have gotten off to dreadful starts. In 2009, the Andrew Strauss era was sparked by being bowled out for 51 in Jamaica. And three years ago in Barbados, they were bowled out for 77 in the first innings, then collapsed to Roston Chase’s gentle off-spin in the second.
England hardly arrive on sure footing this time and will have at least six changes to the team that lined up for their last Test in Hobart, their fourth humbling of that Ashes series.
Dropped are batters Rory Burns, Dawid Malan and Ollie Pope (who remains in the touring party), locum wicketkeeper Sam Billings, plus bowlers Broad and Ollie Robinson. Of those who played in Australia, Haseeb Hameed, Jos Buttler and Anderson are also absent.
So vast has the appetite for change been that there are others who are lucky to survive, not least Chris Woakes, who is looking to defy a poor overseas record while shouldering vast responsibility in the absence of Anderson, Broad, and now Robinson.
With Jofra Archer, Olly Stone and Sam Curran all injured (plus the uncapped Brydon Carse, who would have made this tour), England are without two high-class seam attacks.
Robinson’s injury is a bitter blow, although given the way England have spoken about his fitness of late and the fact that he broke down in Hobart, not the most surprising one. His place goes to Craig Overton, who will take the new ball alongside Woakes, an opportunity he has not been afforded in his five sporadic Test appearances to date.
It is not the most inspiring pairing England have unveiled, and they will be marked against those whose places they have taken. But both men have plenty to prove, and are likelier to succeed with new ball than old.
England must hope that Mark Wood is ready to go after a buildup disrupted by illness, while Ben Stokes should be able to play some part with the ball.
A new era it may be, but the same old problems persist with balancing the team when Stokes’ fitness is uncertain. The only remaining selection quandary – Jack Leach’s spin or Saqib Mahmood’s pace – relates to this issue. A dry, flat-looking pitch (England have rarely been good at reading them in recent years) should mean Leach wins a spot. He is another who would be given a new job: England have never trusted him as part of a four-man attack.
The batting has a new look too. The only certain debut goes to opener Alex Lees, who has taken the slow road to the top. Dan Lawrence comes in at No4 after spells at three, five, six and seven in his eight-match career, while behind the stumps will be the reassuring presence of Ben Foakes.
Quietly significant is the move of Joe Root, with his captaincy under the pump, to first drop. Just like in their last era, if he makes runs, England have a chance.
