How England selector Ed Smith has fared during his first summer in charge

Tough decisions: Ed Smith must decide whether Keaton Jennings tours Sri Lanka
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Will Macpherson11 September 2018

Ed Smith will name his squad to tour Sri Lanka late next week, but he has completed his first summer as England’s national selector.

He has changed the role dramatically, making it far more front-facing and thought-through, and he has always been keen to articulate why he and his panel have made their decisions, which Trevor Bayliss — who used to have to explain it all — likes a lot.

Here, we assess Smith’s hits and misses...

The Buttler did it...

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Jos Buttler is a success Smith likes to own. It seems even more ridiculous now than it did at the turn of the year that England have not been prepared to indulge Buttler’s lavish talents in Test cricket. Was man of the series against Pakistan and England’s best batsman against India, despite a slow start that saw some again call his place into question. The No7 role, with or without the gloves, suits him well, and he is the perfect vice-captain for Joe Root. Averages 46 for the summer and has zipped along at a strike-rate of 66.

Leftie Sam so useful...

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Sam Curran has been a terrific addition and should become this country’s first left-arm seamer to 100 Test wickets. In the winter, England’s lack of variety in their attack was badly exposed and, while they are still searching for the pace that could bring victory in Australia, Curran’s left-arm angle is very helpful. Probably not among England’s best four seamers, but definitely helps balance the best attack. His anarchic batting down the order has been even better.

Top spin...

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Spin has seen a tricky situation navigated astutely by Smith. Jack Leach would likely have played all summer had he not been injured against Pakistan, then short of cricket before the India series. With Moeen Ali at the IPL and not having played red-ball cricket since his dropping, Dom Bess was the next best thing to face Pakistan. By the time the India series came round, he had played little cricket too and Adil Rashid was in white-ball form. Rashid has done okay and Moeen was brought back at exactly the right time. Moeen, Leach and Rashid should all line up in Sri Lanka, and Bess deserves to tour.

Time and a place...

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Location, location, location. Smith and his deputy James Taylor have been around the England team a lot this summer. That’s fine, but when there’s county cricket on, they should be there more often than not, seeking out the next best. Their revamped structure — with official, paid scouts in place — is much better than before, and they can watch every ball bowled in domestic cricket on an iPad. But a single, fixed camera can only tell you so much.

Pope’s promise...

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Ollie Pope is a terrific talent who will play plenty of Test cricket. But, when they dropped Dawid Malan, England were looking for a No4 (they should never have been, mind, because Joe Root should have been there). They plumped for a 20-year-old who had never batted higher than No6 for his county. It was little surprise when things did not quite work out, but Pope will come again.

Opening old wounds...

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Keaton Jennings looks set to survive as opener by default, but his record does not deserve it. Was the conservative option when Mark Stoneman, a far more assuring presence, was dropped, with Nick Gubbins and particularly Rory Burns both in form. Leaden feet make Jennings seem unlikely to thrive in English conditions and 10 Tests is a long time for an opener to go without a half-century. Was ridiculous that Burns did not get a go — whether opening or at No3 — at The Oval, where Jennings may just have played himself off the plane to Sri Lanka.

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