Former Black Caps opener proves Brendon McCullum doesn’t need a dasher at the top for England

New Zealand were famously bowled out for 45 by South Africa in that first match, and it was not long before McCullum slipped down the order and the tall Peter Fulton - “two-metre Peter” as he was known - was summoned to perform a more prosaic role against the new ball.

Fulton actually made two centuries against England in Auckland that year, but they were his only two three-figure scores in 23 Tests, in which he averaged just 25.44. He was, truth be told, an average Test batsman, who only scored at a strike rate of 39.27, but McCullum liked him, as did head coach Mike Hesson, who said this to me recently about Fulton: “He brought a whole load of other qualities to the team in terms of helping drive the culture. We probably stuck with him longer than the numbers would suggest because of the other contributions.”

Which brings us neatly to England’s selection today (Wednesday) for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2, and in particular the batting line-up. We genuinely do not know the type of batsmen Ben Stokes, Rob Key and McCullum are looking for. We think we know, and most observers, given McCullum’s well-earned reputation, appear to be leaning towards the more dashing variety, but stereotypes can be dangerous.

When Kane Williamson once said that batting with McCullum was like being “the library in a theme park” he was being self-deprecating. Reserve and racket can co-exist in Test cricket. The dashers need a platform and some company, and characters count too.

At Lord’s Joe Root will bat at No 4 and Stokes will come in at No 6. That much we have been told. The rest is surely up for debate, even if Stokes did say recently: “You can obviously see where the places are opening up for people to put their hands up: it’s three and five.” That seemed a rather unmerited approval of the opening pair, Alex Lees and Zak Crawley, in the last series in the Caribbean.

The left-handed Lees did not convince on that trip, averaging 21 in the three Tests, with a top score of only 31. But he has had an excellent start to the season, averaging 98 in his four County Championship matches, with two centuries, even if his desire to stand well outside off stump when right-arm bowlers have been operating from around the wicket to him is rather different.

Lees is a Durham teammate of Stokes’s and you do wonder how much influence each of the new cast will exert upon selection.McCullum may be best off holding fire. Duncan Fletcher had two seasons in county cricket before his first England selection meeting and even he said, “I was mindful that I did not know enough about many of the players to make considered judgments.”

Key knows Crawley well, and Crawley is the type of positive batsman that McCullum was. Given that he made a century against West Indies last winter there is a case for his retention, but his figures this season - averaging 19.50 in four matches, in every one of which Kent have conceded over 500 - are paltry.

Key also likes Sussex’s Tom Haines, judging by his tweet before taking his new job - “Looks a bloody good player” - and his will surely be a name that crops up in conversation along with previously discarded openers such as Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Haseeb Hameed, Sam Robson and Keaton Jennings. A reliable opening pair is needed quickly.

Root’s move down a place - he averages 51.27 at four, compared to 39.67 at three - may create more problems than it solves. Dan Lawrence, troubled this season by a hamstring injury, batted at four against West Indies, but you could not really see him at three in Test cricket in England, given how poor a starter he is. You could see Ollie Pope at four, where he bats for Surrey, but not at three, unless he starts batting there regularly for his county. As for the much-touted Harry Brook, who is the leading runscorer in Division One with 758 at a whopping 151.60, it should be noted that he is mostly batting at five for Yorkshire.

Josh Bohannon is batting at three for Lancashire and has made a double-century from there this season. He looks compact and well-organised and may provide a refreshing new face at three. Dawid Malan, 34, may be considered to be too old for a recall there now, while Gloucestershire’s James Bracey has made a couple of hundreds this season at three, where he also made a century for the Lions against Australia A last winter.

Crawley could also be an option at three, which looks his more natural position - he made his 267 against Pakistan in 2020 from there - if another opener is deemed suitable.

As for the No 5 spot, that would be Jonny Bairstow’s ordinarily, having made two centuries in his past four Tests - even if Stokes has now nabbed his six spot, from which Bairstow averages more (38.93) than other positions. However, it may be considered too soon after his return from the Indian Premier League.

In that case, if Lawrence can prove his fitness, he should battle with Pope for the five spot. Both the winner of that duel and Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper, could be under pressure when Bairstow returns, because Bairstow also averages 37.37 and has made five of his eight Test centuries when keeping.

- The Times

Originally published as Former Black Caps opener proves Brendon McCullum doesn’t need a dasher at the top for England