Ben Stokes says it is an "exciting time" to be a fast bowler for England as they prepare for their second Test against the West Indies this week.
England won the first Test by an innings and 114 runs at Lord's last week, with James Anderson, their all-time leading wicket-taker, playing for the final time.
Chris Woakes, now the senior seamer in the squad, will lead the attack at Trent Bridge in his 50th Test, along with Gus Atkinson, who impressed on his debut by taking 12 wickets.
With Anderson joining England's coaching staff, Mark Wood, who was unavailable for the first Test after playing in the T20 World Cup, has been called up to replace him.
Matthew Potts and uncapped Dillon Pennington make up the rest of the fast bowlers, with Stokes excited by the upcoming talent in the squad.
"It's a really exciting time to be a fast bowler in England," Stokes told BBC Sport.
"It is very exciting, the prospect of seeing Gus Atkinson bowl at one end and Mark Wood at the other.
"There will be opportunities for Dillon, no doubt, in the summer, but at this moment in time, Woody makes it into our strongest XI."
After their comprehensive win last week, England can take an unassailable 2-0 lead with another victory in Nottingham and would seal their first series win since the tour of Pakistan in 2022.
However, Thursday's Test will be the first time since 2012 that England will play at home without either Anderson or Stuart Broad, who retired last year.
"Without sounding too over the top, there was always going to be a time where that was going to hit English cricket," said Stokes.
"There are going to be opportunities for guys throughout the rest of the summer and over the next 18 months to two years."
'Legend' Southgate chose right time to call time on England, says former Three Lions team-mate
Gareth Southgate chose the right time to end his England tenure, though he will go down as a Three Lions "legend".
That is according to Southgate's former international team-mate Darren Anderton.
The Football Association (FA) confirmed on Tuesday that Southgate had decided to walk away from his role following the 2-1 Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain.
Southgate, who took charge in 2016, guided his national side to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, as well as back-to-back Euros finals – becoming the first manager to lose two European Championship showpiece matches.
Anderton, a team-mate of Southgate with England at Euro 1996, believes the time was right.
"I think he's been getting a lot of stick. He's been involved since 2011 with the FA and now eight years as the manager," Anderton told Stats Perform.
"I feel like he's more negative within the job, the pressure of it, I think is what causes that. From where he took over, we're in an incredible place with fantastic players."
Southgate appeared to grow tired of the repeated negativity surrounding his side at Euro 2024.
Anderton understands some of the frustration, but thinks Southgate will go down as one of England's great managers.
"There's been a lot of negativity and I think rightly so, the standard and the style of football hasn't been what we would hope or what it was when Gareth first took over," Anderton added.
"I feel that he's done a great job and as he said, time for a change. People always say it's the hardest job in the world and he's had a right go at it and been very close to creating history, but he has great history.
"I mean, two finals and that's what he'll be remembered for. I mean at the moment I think everyone's very negative about it but I think you know as time goes on he'll be remembered as a legend."
England are also the first side to ever lose back-to-back Euros, though Anderton does not believe that unwanted feat will tarnish Southgate's legacy.
"I think it'll be a success," Anderton said when asked how Southgate will be remembered.
"At the moment we see it as a failure because I believe that we had the players and the capabilities to win the tournaments.
"The fact that we haven't done because you know possibly the manner of football that we've played is obviously really disappointing.
"When you watch that Spanish team play and win seven games on the bounce and play with that freedom, I think if we had played in the same way, I think that we would have seen better performances and probably had more chance of winning the tournament.
"That criticism is fair but also the expectation has obviously gone up because of what Gareth's teams have achieved. When that happens, you know, you go into the tournaments, you're favourites, that wasn't the case before he came.
"We were in a really awful position. Eight years ago, if we go into a tournament, and we think we're going to get to a final or a semi-final World Cup, no one cares how we play.
"I think now the expectation has changed based on what he has achieved, and people want more. And that's just the nature of the beast."
Southgate won 61 of his 102 matches in charge of the national team, with 14 of those victories coming at major tournaments.
Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino are said to be the early targets for the FA, though England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley could also be in the frame.
Wiegman hails England colleague Southgate after Three Lions exit
Sarina Wiegman lauded the "incredible" impact Gareth Southgate has had on English football after the Three Lions' manager confirmed his exit on Tuesday.
Southgate walked away from his role with England after their 2-1 defeat against Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.
Having fallen at the same hurdle against Italy, Southgate is the first manager in history to lose two European Championship finals, while England are the first team to suffer defeat at the stage in back-to-back Euros.
England Women's head coach Wiegman knows all too well about the same challenges, though went one further when guiding the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory on home soil, beating Germany in the final.
The pair will likely no longer see one another around England's headquarters, though the Dutchwoman holds Southgate high in her thoughts.
"To be honest, yes, because he's such a nice person and a great coach," Wiegman told ITV after the Lionesses' goalless draw with Sweden in Gothenburg.
"We wouldn't see each other all the time, but when we would, it was very nice. What he has done for English football is just really incredible.
"Of course, they made the final again, they made the final at the last Euros too.
"I think he can be very, very proud of himself. I think England is very proud of him and me as a Dutchie, I'm very proud of him too."
Wiegman's side secured qualification for next year's Women's European Championships with their draw in Sweden.
The Lionesses will now head to Euro 2025 aiming to defend their title in Switzerland.
Crawley hails Anderson's seamless coaching transition ahead of second West Indies Test
Zak Crawley has lauded the mentoring work of James Anderson after England's record wicket-taker stepped into a coaching role.
Anderson bowed out of international cricket last week, featuring for the final time as England thrashed West Indies at Lord's.
The 41-year-old took four wickets, taking his overall career tally to 704, while Gus Atkinson starred on his Test debut.
Anderson is now acting as a bowling mentor, and Crawley believes his former team-mate has transitioned seamlessly into his new role.
Crawley told BBC Sport: "He's going into his new role pretty seamlessly.
"It's normal and he's the same bloke.
"I always found he was really helpful to my game anyway, talking to him about how he bowled at me and certain things like that."
Mark Wood has replaced Anderson in England's bowling attack, which starts on Thursday at Trent Bridge.
Though England won the first Test by an innings and 114 runs, Crawley says they are taking nothing for granted.
"We know they're a good side," he said.
"They've got some really, really good players in that team, so we're going to have to perform well to beat them.
"We don't take anyone for granted. We have to be sharp and perform like we did at Lord's.
"It was a really good performance and we want to back that up again."
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