England are considering ignoring the old adage of ‘never change a winning side’ to try to ensure their leading bowlers remain fit for a packed program of international cricket.
The hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series against the West Indies courtesy of a crushing nine-wicket win, achieved with more than a day to spare, at Trent Bridge on Monday.
Set 108 for victory on the fourth day, England finished on 1-111.
England captain Andrew Strauss, who made 141 in the first innings to follow his hundred in the five-wicket first Test win at Lord’s, was out for 45 just 19 runs short of victory.
Earlier, Marlon Samuels made a dashing 76 not out, top scoring for the tourists for the second time in the match after his first innings 117.
However, he merely delayed the inevitable and this loss extended the West Indies’ winless run in England to 16 Tests, with 14 defeats and two draws.
The Windies were all out for 165 in their second innings shortly after lunch.
There is just over a week until the third Test at Edgbaston on June 7 and, normally, England would be reluctant to make rotational changes at such an early stage of their home season.
England’s usual policy when resting players has been to give them time off in one-day series rather than Tests.
But they could change tack with a crowded schedule on the horizon.
Once this Test campaign is over, there is a one-day series against the West Indies before Australia visit for a purely limited-overs campaign ahead of a full tour, featuring Tests and one-dayers, by South Africa.
Later this year, England defend their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka before playing four Tests in India.
“We’ll definitely think about changes,” said Strauss, after top scoring in both innings at Trent Bridge with 141 – his second hundred in as many Tests – and 45.
“We’ve always viewed resting and rotating as something you have to do on a case-by-case basis so we’ll speak to the seamers, see how they’re feeling and see how we’re looking for the rest of the summer.
“It’s always a balance to strike because, primarily, you want to win every Test you play – that’s the starting point.
“We’ll have a conversation about it in the coming days.”
England have made great play of the strength of their seam bowling resources and in Steven Finn and Graham Onions, yet to feature in the series, they have two proven performers.
Someone who has no desire to rest is seam bowler Tim Bresnan.
The Yorkshireman’s place was under threat coming into the second Test but he responded with a man-of-the-match display, taking eight wickets and scoring a handy 39 not out that helped England to a first-innings lead.