LONDON — With England's bowling attack showing signs of wear and tear after two bruising Tests against India, a fresh name has been added to the squad for the final three matches: Matthew Fisher. The 26-year-old Yorkshire seamer's call-up has sparked curiosity among fans, prompting the question: just who is Matthew Fisher, and could he realistically feature in the crucial third Test in Rajkot?
Fisher's inclusion is a nod to both potential and necessity. Injuries have beset England's pace stocks, with the experienced duo of Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson managing workloads, and Gus Atkinson returning home. This has opened the door for Fisher, a bowler long admired within the English system for his natural assets and skill, but whose career has been persistently hampered by injuries.
A Prodigy Hampered by Setbacks
Matthew Fisher's name is not new to those who follow county cricket closely. He burst onto the scene as a teenager, making his first-class debut for Yorkshire at just 16 years old. In 2016, he became the youngest player to represent Yorkshire in the County Championship since the legendary Fred Trueman. The raw materials were always enticing: a high, repeatable action generating lively pace and pronounced seam movement, traits that have drawn comparisons to a young Stuart Broad.
However, his journey has been a story of frustrating interruptions. A litany of stress fractures, side strains, and other niggles has limited his first-class appearances dramatically. Since his debut a decade ago, he has played only 30 first-class matches, taking 76 wickets at an average of 32.07. His sole Test cap came in a rain-affected match against the West Indies in Barbados in 2022, where he claimed the wicket of Nkrumah Bonner. Since then, further injuries have kept him out of the red-ball fray for Yorkshire for long periods.
What Does Fisher Offer England?
Despite the stop-start nature of his career, Fisher's skill set is precisely what England's management, led by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, values. He is not an out-and-out speed merchant like Mark Wood, but he operates in the brisk 85-88 mph range with consistent control and the ability to move the ball both ways off the seam. In Indian conditions, where maintaining pressure and hitting the pitch hard is crucial, his attributes could be very useful.
England's bowling coach, Jeetan Patel, recently highlighted Fisher's unique qualities, stating: "He's a little bit different. He's got a bit about him, he's got some skills, he's tall, he's got a high release point and he's got a little bit of pace." This "point of difference" is key. With James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired, England are looking to build a new-generation attack, and Fisher's height and seam presentation offer a contrast to the skiddier styles of Wood or the swing of Sam Curran.
His recent form, though in white-ball cricket, is encouraging. He was a standout performer for Yorkshire in the T20 Blast last summer and has impressed in the ongoing England Lions training camp in Abu Dhabi, where he has been working closely with the Test squad's management. The environment seems to believe in his untapped potential.
The Case for the Third Test
Could Fisher play in Rajkot? It remains an outside chance, but it is not impossible. England's selection will be dictated by the pitch conditions and their assessment of workload. The likely scenario is that James Anderson will return after being rested in Visakhapatnam, partnering the ever-present Joe Root-supporting spinner, Tom Hartley. The third seamer's spot is the most debated.
The main contenders are:
Mark Wood: The X-factor, express pace option, but England are managing his overs carefully.
Ollie Robinson: Possesses great control and skill, but his fitness and match sharpness are under scrutiny.
Matthew Fisher: The fresh, unknown quantity.
Fisher's advantage is his novelty. Indian batters have no recent first-class footage to study, and his height and seam movement could pose questions on a flat Rajkot deck. As former England captain Michael Vaughan noted on social media, "Matthew Fisher is a seriously skilful bowler... if he stays fit he will play a lot for England." The "if he stays fit" clause is the perennial caveat, but in a must-win series, England may be tempted to roll the dice on a bowler who could surprise the opposition.
A Calculated Gamble with High Reward
Selecting Fisher would undoubtedly be a risk. His first-class experience is limited, and throwing him into a high-stakes Test in India is a formidable challenge. However, the current England regime under Stokes and McCullum has built its reputation on bold, instinctive selections—think Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir—backing character and specific skills over conventional career statistics.
Fisher's call-up is a testament to his resilience and the faith the selectors have in his underlying talent. While he may not walk straight into the XI for the third Test, his presence provides vital depth and a compelling option. If England feel the Rajkot pitch requires a tall, hit-the-deck seamer who can extract variable bounce, Matthew Fisher could well find himself with a second, unexpected chance to forge a Test career, finally stepping out from the long shadow of injury and fulfilling the promise that has followed him since he was a 16-year-old prodigy.