So for NZ who will be in the squad?
I am assuming that the 11 who started will be in the squad (possible exception of Woakes if Anderson and Wood are fit).
Who will the back up spinner be?
Will Foakes go and Crawley or Sibley?
So Aggers pointed out that the Test Series with New Zealand doesn't count as part of the 2019-21 Test Championship, but the later series against South Africa and then Sri Lanka do. (as for why that's the case.....you'll have to ask the ICC!)
Given that we're hosting the final in June 2021, I suspect we'd quite like to be in it. In which case, those two series later this year are going to be crucial.
Sooooo…..this New Zealand series is probably the time for a) Root, Anderson & Broad to take a rest, and b) to try out some of the possible younger players. But we want to be back to fielding our strongest possible side by the time we take on the Saffers.
Assuming the squads are sixteen strong, something like:
New Zealand: Burns, Denly, Sibley, Pope, Crawley, Stokes, Foakes, Buttler, Archer, Curran, Leach, Overton, Woakes, Stone, Bess, Wood
South Africa: Burns, Root, Stokes, Foakes, Buttler, Archer, Anderson, Broad, Leach, Overton, Wood, Stone, Bess + whichever three of Denly/Sibley/Pope/Crawley play best in NZ
Notes:
- Assumes that Stokes wants to go play in NZ because that's where he's from
- Assumes that Dom Bess is (in a world where Moeen still hasn't got his act together) still our second best spin bowler. Someone who follows county cricket more closely than I do will probably know if this is true
- Assumes that Mark Wood and Olly Stone can get fit and stay fit (very dangerous assumption)
- Drops Bairstow because I think his recent play deserves it, I don't think there's space for him and Buttler in the squad, and I think Jos has been better in the last eighteen months
- Drops Curran & Woakes for South Africa because I don't think they'll be a ton of use on the hard, bouncy pitches there. They'll be effective in NZ though.