England will surely stick with him until the end of the series (not least because the spare batsman Joe Denly is not necessarily the most attractive option to replace him) but he badly needs a score. Antigua is expected to spin, so he has an opportunity to impress – even if that would not prove too much.
Broad back?
Stuart Broad
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Before the tour, Broad probably expected to play in Barbados, and would have understood if he was then left out for an extra spinner in Antigua.
Trouble is, after a defeat like that England are now almost duty-bound to bring him back even if conditions are not as helpful as they were in the First Test. If he does not come in for a spinner, he will surely return for Sam Curran who was a little exposed as an opening bowler.
If he plays from now, it will be as a fourth seamer. Chris Woakes will come into the equation for that role too, perhaps in St Lucia.
How many spinners do you actually need?
Adil Rashid
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The success of England’s spinners in Sri Lanka, the attacking threat of Adil Rashid and a dry-looking pitch seduced them into playing two spinners in Barbados (they should have taken note of the Windies’ squad, mind). They had no need for two, especially when West Indies won the toss, meaning England would not bowl last.
They probably will need two in Antigua but Root appears unable to trust Adil Rashid, so Jack Leach may come in for him.
If the turn is going to be extravagant, Leach’s parsimonious left-arm orthodox will be helpful but if the surface is just dull (and, with the series scoreline, the groundsman might be encouraged to make it a little duller), Rashid’s ability to conjure something from nothing would be valued. Then again, so would Leach’s control. He appears to be the favourite.
How many wicketkeepers do you actually need?
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If England wanted their options to be really open with the ball by selecting four seamers and two spinners, they would need to drop a batsman. Jennings looks the least likely to score runs, but that would require deploying someone out of position in the highly-specialised openers’ role.
More likely would be dropping one of the wicketkeepers; since Ben Foakes’ emergence in Sri Lanka they have had three in the side. None of them deserve dropping: Foakes had his first average Test in Barbados and dropping him would require finding a new No3 anyway (as Jonny Bairstow would have to move down the order to keep); it is only one match since Bairstow made a century and the No3 experiment needs time to work; Jos Buttler has been superb since returning to the side in May.
