Home comforts await for England

England’s 2012 summer of cricket starts this week with a three match series against the West Indies which, with no disrespect to their opponents, will act as a taster ahead of South Africa’s tour in July and August.

Life at home has been very comfortable for England in recent years. They have lost only two Tests in this country since South Africa’s last tour in 2008, and last year brushed India aside 4-0. But after their winter travails, mostly against spin, they will feel the need to re-justify their position as the world’s number one team. India’s number one status was called into question by the British press when it was earned largely off the back of home performances. Now England are in a similar position, but know that if they slip up this summer South Africa will in all likelihood usurp them at the top of the ICC Test Rankings.

When they line up at Lord’s on Thursday, England will have added new fire to their middle order. Jonny Bairstow was first noticed for his bright red hair, and for being the son of the late Yorkshire wicket-keeper David. Bairstow senior played only four Tests, but Bairstow junior will now be fully expected to have a long international career. At 22 he already has 5 first-class hundreds, and averages 46 in the longer form of the game. Ravi Bopara would almost certainly have had a deserved opportunity were it not for an untimely injury blow, but Bairstow is a superb alternative. Evidence from recent summers suggests that number six will often be building on the good work of a top-order which is solid in home conditions. On current form, and with the ability to hit the ball out of the park, Bairstow is well placed to do just that. A strong showing this summer could cement his place in the side for years to come.

While Bairstow will be striving to show the world how good he is, the top order need to confirm that this winter was only a blip. Some sections of the media, perhaps unfairly, have suggested that retirement may be just around the corner for England’s captain fantastic Andrew Strauss. I would argue that this is highly unlikely, given the back-to-back Ashes series just over a year away, and the esteem in which he is held by so many in the English cricketing fraternity. But the point stands that runs are needed, and this series against the West Indies is a chance to relieve any lingering pressure. The other man who had two very poor tours was Ian Bell. But in 2011 he averaged in the region of 100 and anybody who thinks he could be dropped, either this summer or for the tour of India in the autumn, is living in the 1990s. Bell is arguably England’s classiest player, and after the best part of two years unbroken success it was hardly a shock to see him have a poor series or two. His form for Warwickshire has been strong, so expect him to go well for England again this season.

If England’s batting has something to prove, the bowling most certainly does not. Player of the year James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who terrorised India last summer and was also brilliant in the UAE, form England’s best new ball partnership since Bob Willis and Ian Botham. One of Anderson’s greatest strengths is his ability to quickly expose vulnerable batsmen to the swinging ball. Left-handers are particularly susceptible and so the likes of Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo might well have their work cut out over the next few weeks. Not that right-handers Adrian Barath and Kirk Edwards can let their guard down either. The identity of the third seamer is as yet unknown. But there are sterling cases for the inclusion of any of Steven Finn, Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions. Those that miss out will be very unlucky indeed. And England’s bowling depth does not end with those three. The England Lions side that beat the tourists at Northampton last week was powered by a third string attack of Jack Brooks, Stuart Meaker and Jade Dernbach. There is a case that that particular group would be a good match for the first choice seamers from India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Given recent weather spin is unlikely to be a factor at Lord’s. But in Graeme Swann England have the perfect bowler to bowl at the plethora of left-handers in the West Indian, and indeed the South African, line-up. By the end of the tour of the UAE it appeared that Swann had lost some of his mojo. But he hit back in Sri Lanka and is now closing in on 200 Test wickets in double quick time. Monty Panesar will have to wait a little longer for another shot.

When you are the best team in the world it is difficult to achieve what everybody expects you to achieve. Nevertheless, Australia managed it for over a decade and, after the blip this winter, nothing less than a dominant performance against West Indies and a series win over South Africa will be regarded as a successful summer this year.