It is, sadly, worth a reminder that before England’s men began happily dismembering India’s T20 team in recent days, their Test side was discarded in a pile on the floor. England currently have no captain, no all-rounder and an opening partnership on trial. They have no discernible style or approach, no clear idea or identity. The wicketkeeper is suspect and the bowling unit is uncertain. They haven’t won a series since 2024, the Ashes is 11 months away and England are woefully unprepared. Haven’t we seen this one before?
Fortunately, what England do now have is fully codified regulations for when and when not to get on the lash. Rob Key has updated the rules after an eight-month period in which Harry Brook got punched by a bouncer, the Test team went on a stag do in the middle of an Ashes series and Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke a curfew the latter didn’t know existed, leading to their security man getting hit in the face by a rugby player.
