Should England continue rotating their players in the Test series against India?
The highly anticipated England-India Test series has already begun. Ahead of the series, Ben Stokes has decided to take an indefinite break from all cricket. When it comes to red-ball cricket, England comes from the backdrop of a Test series defeat to New Zealand in June. There are certainly no two thoughts about the fact that England will miss the services of the all-rounder. This has yet again brought the talks about England’s rotation policy to the fore.
England’s management has been opting to go with the rotation policy irrespective of the opposition. The multi-format players have been dropped from the squads in the wake of giving them enough time away from cricket. During the India tour as well, the key players- Jos Buttler, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, and Jonny Bairstow were rested by the side and England received a lot of flak from some former players and analysts for their decision to do so for a crucial series.
England Test captain Joe Root has signalled that the team is ready to move on from the ‘rest and rotation’ policy ahead of their series against India. pic.twitter.com/pNlHhgdvlg
— ICC (@ICC) July 1, 2021
England’s rotation policy: A jigsaw to be solved
It rings true that amidst a tight cricketing schedule, it becomes important that the players receive a much-needed break from International cricket. Trying out new combinations over the passage of time by resting the prime players helps any national side to build up a strong team with adequate bench strength. But when it comes to playing against strong opponents, one needs their best XI to walk the field.
Now that England and India are to battle it out against each other for a five-match Test series, England will want to make most of the home conditions and drive an edge over the visitors. Losing the series in India 3-1 ended the possibility of England being a part of the summit clash at the WTC final. India though lost the WTC finals to the Kiwis but they are the strong contenders heading into this contest and the rotation policy of England might just lead to them losing the plot.
The parent format of the game demands resilience and momentum. If a player gets going in the first match and is benched for the next game, it breaks the momentum. The reading of all of these boils down to the fact that though giving some time off to the cricketers stands essential especially in the Covid times, England cannot afford to go with the policy and can rest it for the India series.
For Joe Root and company, they have a high-octane Test series to be played with the Ashes on cards as well. So unless there are any fitness and injury concerns in the team, England shouldn’t quite put their thinking hats on the rotation policy. In the World Test Championship cycle, where every ball of the match is a contest in itself, the strongest squad should take the charge of the field.
