England bring in Liam Plunkett, Mark Footitt; retain faith in Adam Lyth

The Ashes 2015: England bring in Liam Plunkett, Mark Footitt; retain faith in Adam Lyth
2 HOURS AGO AUGUST 01, 2015 10:17PM


Darren Lehmann: 'We're not going to panic'

ENGLAND have kept faith with opener Adam Lyth, naming him in a 14-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
Selectors have summoned Liam Plunkett and Mark Footitt to Nottingham due to Jimmy Anderson’s side strain. Otherwise, it is an unchanged squad.
Lyth has looked a walking wicket for the majority of the series, banking scores of six, 37, 0, seven, 10 and 12.

Adam Lyth gets another chance to score some Test runs at Trent Bridge.

Former England batsman Jonathan Trott thought it would be foolish to axe Lyth and selectors agreed.
“He just needs a little bit of luck and hopefully he’ll get going,” said Trott.
England will have to make at least one change to the XI that thumped Australia by eight wickets at Edgbaston due to Anderson’s absence.
Mark Wood, who missed the third Test due to an ankle injury, is likely to return.
“We felt that bringing in two extra bowlers in Liam Plunkett and Mark Footitt was necessary,” England selector James Whitaker said.

Mark Footitt has been called up for Trent Bridge.

“The reports on Wood are positive at this stage and we are hopeful he’ll be available for selection.
“The performance at Edgbaston this week was very encouraging and it is important we build on that next week at Trent Bridge.”

England 14-man squad for fourth Test: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Steve Finn, Liam Plunkett, Mark Footitt, Adil Rashid.

I would imagine England will bring back Wood for Anderson and go with a bowling attack of Broad, Finn, Wood, Stokes and Mooen Ali. Not having Jimmy is a psychological blow as much as a physical one.

Despite looking out of his depth and his weaknesses being exposed, Lyth isn't going anywhere. Test cricket is hard, Ashes cricket even harder. At a minimum he will get the rest of this series to prove himself and quite likely also the upcoming series against Pakistan. You can't keep chopping and changing players. If the selectors felt he was the best opener in the country (and he was), then they need to ride it out and see what he has to offer. Personally, I do worry about his technique and his fondness of playing at too many balls outside his off-stump, combined with a a few rash shots early in his innings.