England attack's 2005 comparisons fair - Trescothick

England’s new pace attack is drawing comparisons to the legendary Ashes-winning quartet of 2005, according to interim head coach Marcus Trescothick. The current England seamers—Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue—have combined to deliver a series win over Pakistan, reviving memories of the quartet that helped England reclaim the urn 21 years ago. Trescothick, who was part of the 2005 triumph, suggested the similarities between the two groups are striking.

The 2005 attack, featuring Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones, and Andrew Flintoff, was instrumental in England’s famous victory. Trescothick now oversees a revitalized England side that has ended a poor run of just two wins in 10 Tests under previous leadership. Successive victories over Pakistan marked England’s first series win since 2024, a turnaround that began with Joe Root’s return as captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement.

Trescothick highlighted the balance and variety in the current attack. While Archer, Tongue, and Atkinson can consistently bowl over 90 mph, Robinson—recall after a lengthy absence—operates at a more measured pace but with impressive control. His ability to extract movement has yielded 23 wickets this summer at an average of 8.3, underscoring his value as a wicket-taking threat.

“What we do have is three guys bowling at 92 miles an hour, which is really nice to have in your armoury,” Trescothick said. “The more they play together and gain experience, the more they fit into place.” He also noted that the squad includes depth, with Sam Cook, Sonny Baker, and Matthew Fisher as backups, though Trescothick emphasized the priority remains winning the series rather than blooding reserves.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who led the 2005 side, wrote in *The Telegraph* that the current attack is capable of emulating past glories, stating they could “win back the Ashes for England next summer.” England now aim to complete a 3-0 series sweep against Pakistan in the third Test at Edgbaston, starting on September 9.

The squad for the final Test will be announced soon. Brydon Carse, initially selected but removed following an incident in Derby, is not expected to return until police and regulatory investigations conclude. In his absence, England will rely on their core four seamers to secure a historic series victory.

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