Struggles: Zak Crawley
(Picture: AP)Morning rain delayed England’s charge for an improbable, exhilarating 3-0 series win. But whether they secured the 113 runs required to win this Test or not, the overwhelming expectation was that — barring late injuries or a change of heart — they would instantly name an unchanged squad for Friday’s Covid-delayed Test against India at Edgbaston.
That is the way in the Brendon McCullum-Ben Stokes era. Players are backed while England win. There have been match-shaping contributions from almost everyone in the side, with Jack Leach joining the party in some style here, with his first Test 10-wicket haul. Like so many others, he looks energised by the new management.
