England are exhilarating when they are good but infuriating when they are not. Stephan Shemilt tackles five questions after defeat in Pakistan.
England have been spun to defeat in Pakistan, for the first time losing a three-match series they led 1-0.
Since then, England have played 21, won 10 and lost 10. They would probably have a winning record had the Manchester rain during the Ashes not produced the only draw. As it stands, they are sixth out of nine in the World Test Championship table. All Tests are important, starting with New Zealand. After that, India at home followed by Australia next winter will shape the legacy of this team. The judgement day is upon us.Stokes deserves some slack. Hampered by his left knee for so long, he had just got back to chest-pumping all-rounder status in the home summer when he was sawn off by his hamstring. Returning for the final two Tests in Pakistan he was feeling his way back.
The variable in all of this is Jordan Cox. If he does well covering for father-to-be Smith in New Zealand, England might find him hard to ignore. It is on Pope to ensure he is not the man squeezed out. Bashir's biggest challenge will come in Australia, where men in green helmets will try to whack him out of the southern hemisphere. He seems to have the temperament not to be cowed, the question will be whether he has the skill, guile and craft to do the job that will be required.
Not everything is about the Ashes but, for this area of the team, that plane journey to Perth in November next year is paramount. Stokes is not the first England captain to put together a long-term plan to have a pace battery down under. He will know plenty before him have arrived for a gun battle armed only with pea shooters.
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