THE BIG SWITCH
England weigh up five changes
JOE ROOT stands on the cusp of a series-defining match where he could make up to five changes from the previousTest.
Even after a heavy defeat like in Chennai, that would be one heck of a reaction from a side aiming to become the best in the world.
Unlike the England teams of the Nineties that were fond of their own kind of rotation, known simply as picking and axing, Root and head coach Chris Silverwood are attempting to find some kind of method to the madness.
From the second Test there is no Moeen Ali available, while Olly Stone and Stuart Broad are set to be swapped for fit-again Jofra Archer and Jimmy Anderson, who was always pencilled in for this pink-ball match.
In the batting, the availability of Jonny Bairstow and Zak Crawley again puts Dan Lawrence and
Rory Burns under the microscope, even if only one of them ends up making way.
So with a series win in India up for grabs in the day-night Test in Ahmedabad, the skipper admits the situation is challenging.
But with the coronavirus, bio-bubbles, mental health awareness plus a schedule that is enough to make even the most work-hungry Shetland pony wince, change has to be the order of the day.
“It’s not ideal but these times are not ideal,” said Root. “It is trying to factor it all in together and pick the side you think is best to exploit these conditions. “Dealing with injuries as well. It is something we have to be adaptable with and the attitude from the guys has been outstanding.
“We know the responsibility is on those 11 players to put in a performance in these conditions and, hopefully, we are able to do that.
“It’s 1-1 with a pink-ball game two days away and it’s a very exciting prospect.”
Chris Woakes is in the mix to replace Moeen for the third Test which gets under way tomorrow at the 110,000-seater Sardar Patel Stadium, below.
The pink ball was his friend in Adelaide when he took 4-36 against the Aussies on the last tour and his all-round ability makes him a more than handy No8.
Root revealed Woakes would be leaving for home and his two young children following this Test but the skipper said: “It should not be factored in that he is leaving.”