Nice And Threesy? This Most Certainly Was Not!

Derek Pringle examines the problems in the England top order which were only highlighted further by the dismal display against Ireland

If England’s selectors were hoping to learn something new from the inaugural Test against Ireland, or have their hunches confirmed for the 14-man squad against Australia, then they were probably disappointed despite Jack Leach coming within eight runs of making a hundred as nightwatchman. In fact, Leach was promptly dropped for his efforts, his batting prowess received with gratitude at the time but considered surplus to Ashes requirements, at least for now.

Although bolstered by the return of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to the middle-order, England’s top three continues to pose the most concern for the team’s well-being at Test level, especially with a voracious Aussie pace attack pawing the turf. But if the Ireland Test was meant to clarify anything the fog of uncertainty remains over this area to the point where there is now talk of Joe Root batting at three, a position for which his distaste is well known.

Did we learn anything against Ireland? Well, Jason Roy made 72 off 78 balls, but that was in the second innings on a pitch burned into semi-submission by two days of roasting sun. Anyway, it was against Ireland. Not that I wish to diminish their fine performance in dismissing England for 85 on the first morning at Lord’s, but essentially this was a sub-85mph attack which, when shorn of any menace in the pitch, possessed about as much fear factor as Frank “Oooh Betty” Spencer.