Monday, 20 November 2017:
ENGLAND'S SQUAD FOR THE ASHES
ALASTAIR COOK
Age: 32
Tests: 147
Ashes Tests: 30
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 46.33
Ashes batting average: 39.20
Scored 766 runs at 127.66 two tours ago to help England to their first Ashes series success in 24 years in 2010-11. Had a slow start to the tour but his skills haven't waned with age.
MARK STONEMAN
Age: 30
Tests: 3
Ashes Tests: 0
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 30
Ashes batting average: N/A
Late bloomer who only made his Test debut against West Indies earlier this year. Worked way into side after averaging 60 in the 2017 County season.
JAMES VINCE
Age: 26
Tests: 7
Ashes Tests: 0
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 19.27
Ashes batting average: N/A
Stylish batsman who is yet to convert potential into results since debuting last year. Will bat at No.3 for the Gabba but could come under pressure to hold out Gary Ballance if he doesn't score runs.
JOE ROOT
Age: 26
Tests: 60
Ashes Tests: 14
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 53.76
Ashes batting average: 41.29
No.2 in world Test batting rankings, but Australian crowds haven't seen the best of him. Averaged just 27.42 in his only tour of Australia in 2013-14 and was dropped for the Sydney Test. Has matured significantly since then.
DAWID MALAN
Age: 30
Tests: 5
Ashes Tests: 0
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 23.62
Ashes batting average: N/A
Made his debut against childhood country of South Africa earlier this year. Yet to cement his spot though, with just two scores above 50 and no centuries in his eight Test innings.
JONNY BAIRSTOW
Age: 28
Tests: 45
Ashes Tests: 9
Playing role: Right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman
Test batting average: 39.77
Ashes batting average: 24.66
Offers versatility with the bat and gloves that Australia so desperately want. Will keep runs ticking over, and has batted as high as No.4 or No.5 this year.
MOEEN ALI
Age: 30
Tests: 44
Ashes Tests: 5
Playing role: Allrounder. Right-arm offbreak bowler/left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 34.66
Ashes batting average: 36.62
Test bowling average: 37.32
Ashes bowling averages: 45.50
Key inclusion after overcoming a side strain. Has had plenty of success with the ball at home, but getting results in Australia has always been tough for English spinners.
CHRIS WOAKES
Age: 28
Tests: 18
Ashes Tests: 1
Playing role: Allrounder. Right-arm paceman/right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 32.14
Ashes batting average: 30.60
Test bowling average: 42
Ashes bowling average: 96
Left to fill much of the void left by Ben Stokes. Would likely have been in the side even with Stokes there, but proved his worth with the ball taking six wickets in the first innings of England's last warm-up match.
CRAIG OVERTON
Age: 23
Tests: 0
Ashes Tests: 0
Playing role: Right-arm paceman
Test bowling average: N/A
Ashes bowling average: N/A
Yet to play international cricket in any form, but is pushing for a Test debut at the Gabba as Jake Ball struggles to overcome an ankle injury. His pace won't worry the hosts, but his ability to swing the ball could.
STUART BROAD
Age: 31
Tests: 109
Ashes Tests: 22
Playing role: Right-arm paceman
Test bowling average: 28.81
Ashes bowling average: 27.69
Hasn't had as much success with the Kookaburra in Australia as he has the Dukes ball at home, but is a real threat to Australia when he gets it swinging. The prospect of him with a pink ball under lights is tantalising.
JAMES ANDERSON
Age: 35
Tests: 129
Ashes Tests: 26
Playing role: Right-arm paceman
Test bowling average: 27.39
Ashes bowling average: 35.87
Embarking on what will surely be his last tour of Australia. Struggled in the previous Ashes here with the uncharacteristic record of 14 wickets at 43.92, but swung the ball tremendously during the English summer to claim 39 scalps in seven Tests against South Africa and West Indies.
JAKE BALL
Age: 26
Tests: 3
Ashes Tests: 0
Playing role: Right-arm paceman
Test bowling average: 114
Ashes bowling average: N/A
Would've likely been England's fourth quick at the Gabba before he injured his ankle. His ability to swing the ball at pace has yielded him wickets in County cricket but that hasn't transferred to the international arena yet.
BEN STOKES
Age: 26
Tests: 39
Ashes Tests: 9
Playing role: Allrounder. Right-arm paceman/right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 35.72
Ashes batting average: 30
Test bowling average: 33.93
Ashes bowling average: 33.07
Immediate playing future remains unclear as he continues to be under investigation from English police over a street brawl. Australia will be hoping he doesn't arrive, give the stability he adds to England's batting and bowling.
