Zak Crawley’s early season form - first-innings scores of 1, 0 and 1 - has reignited debate about whether the Kent batsman merits a place in England’s Test team.
Despite such domestic struggles, and the fact he possesses the worst average of any player batting as many times as him in a top three position (30.56 in 94 innings) in Test cricket history, change remains highly unlikely as England retain faith in his ability to counter-attack top teams like India and Australia, opponents in huge series later this year.
However, if there was a dramatic change of heart, or injury were to strike - as it did last summer when a broken little finger ruled him out of three Tests against Sri Lanka - where could the selectors turn?
Mail Sport assesses the chances of half a dozen contenders:
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
If everyone is available, England have a selection headache following the emergence of the Barbados-raised all-rounder.
The 21-year-old has risen to every challenge at international level thus far, passing 50 seven times in 23 innings and showing great temperament at No 3 in last winter's win in New Zealand when Jamie Smith was on paternity leave.
Jacob Bethell has a great temperament but lacks top level experience as an opener
Zak Crawley's early season form has been concerning but England are likely to retain faith
Although he is yet to go in first as a senior cricketer, Bethell was an opener throughout his schoolboy cricket days and his inclusion would provide an extra bowling option from within the top six - Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed providing a funky alternative in this kind of role.
Ben McKinney (Durham)
In terms of physique and style, the 20-year-old is the most like-for-like nomination. Slightly taller than Crawley at 6ft 7ins and left-handed as opposed to right, the 20-year-old would nevertheless provide the contrast in height to Ben Duckett that challenges opposition attacks to constantly alter lines and lengths when bowling to the current first-wicket combination.
Australia’s great pairing of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer prospered through posing a similar challenge.
England’s hierarchy witnessed McKinney’s fast-scoring ability when the second of three first-class hundreds to date - a run-a-ball 110 - salvaged some pride for England Lions in defeat to Australia A in Sydney two months ago.
Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire)
County captaincy is clearly bringing out the best in Hameed. His early-season contributions with the bat have helped Nottinghamshire to the top of the first division.
Already two spells in as a Test cricketer, and although at 28 he has upgraded the disciplined approach that earned the Baby Boycott nickname in a bid to earn a third, it would be a stretch to say he is prime Bazball material.
What is in his favour is a wide range of experiences - of thriving under immense scrutiny as a teenager in India and being submerged by the weight of expectation at his home county of Lancashire.
Six successive single figure scores in Australia in 2021-22 count against him.
Haseeb Hameed is playing well for Nottinghamshire but perhaps is not Bazball material
Ben McKinney would be the most like-for-like replacement if Crawley is dropped
Tom Haines (Sussex)
The most prolific player in this season’s County Championship with 449 runs, including big hundreds against Somerset and Surrey.
Haines, 26, would be ahead of another left-hander in 31-year-old Ben Compton - grandson of the great Denis, cousin of Nick, team mate of Crawley at Kent - on age alone.
Since the start of the 2021 summer, Haines has averaged 45.47 in first-class matches here and also struck a century for England Lions in Sri Lanka two years ago. Likely to get a further chance to show his credentials in one of the two Lions matches against India’s second string next month.
Tom Haines is scoring plenty of runs and is likely to get a chance for England Lions
Dom Sibley (Surrey)
An old school opener who thrives on crease occupation - as highlighted by an average of 40 mirroring his strike rate across a 12-year, first-class career. Although his method is not dissimilar to England great Alastair Cook, a lack of release shot such as Cook’s clip off the hip or cut square of the wicket hampered his spell in Joe Root’s Test side between 2019-21.
Despite his excellent current touch - twin hundreds taken off Hampshire between two 50s - it would take an unforeseen change of tactical direction for Sibley to be recalled. When Crawley was sidelined last summer, the selectors took a failed gamble on the 29-year-old’s Surrey colleague Dan Lawrence instead.
Dom Sibley has had his chances for England at the top level and thrives off crease occupation
Alex Lees (Durham)
In contrast to Sibley, Lees has invested time in changing his method since the axe fell on his fleeting first-wicket tenure three years ago.
After grinding out scores in his debut series in West Indies, the Yorkshireman had been a willing convert to the more aggressive approach instilled by coach Brendon McCullum, but, despite series wins over New Zealand and South Africa in the summer of 2022, personal success was not forthcoming.
Since the start of the 2023 season, however, his 2544 runs in the Championship have come at a strike rate of 65 - a significant jump on his first-class career mark of 50.
