England attack’s 2005 comparisons fair – Trescothick
England's interim head coach Marcus Trescothick has said it is fair to compare the side's current pace attack of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue to the celebrated 2005 Ashes-winning quartet of Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff. The four seamers have come together following Ben Stokes' retirement and have helped England win their first Test series since 2024 with successive victories over Pakistan, ending a poor run of just two wins in ten Tests under the previous captaincy.
Trescothick, who was part of the 2005 winning team, praised the complementary skills within the new attack, noting three bowlers operate at around 92mph while Robinson provides contrast with his accurate, slower style, having taken 23 wickets this summer at an average of 8.3. England now aim for a 3-0 series sweep in the third Test at Edgbaston from 9 September, with back-up seamers Sam Cook, Sonny Baker and Matthew Fisher in contention following Brydon Carse's removal from the squad amid an ongoing police and Cricket Regulator investigation.
- Trescothick likens current England attack to 2005 Ashes-winning quartet
- Robinson, Archer, Atkinson and Tongue have sealed a series win over Pakistan
- England target 3-0 sweep at Edgbaston from 9 September
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England's four-man pace attack of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue has come together this summer following Ben Stokes' retirement from Test cricket. Interim head coach Marcus Trescothick, who was a member of England's celebrated 2005 Ashes-winning side, has drawn comparisons between this current group and the pace quartet from that era, which included Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff.
The new-look attack has helped turn around England's fortunes after a difficult run under the previous captaincy, which had produced only two wins in ten Tests. Since being brought together, the bowlers have combined pace with variety, and their performances have contributed to series wins over Pakistan, England's first Test series victory since 2024.
The team's build-up has also been affected by developments away from the pitch, with seam bowler Brydon Carse removed from the squad amid a police and Cricket Regulator investigation, prompting other bowlers to be considered for a place in the squad.