Several positions within England’s top order and are still seeking resolution but the cracks were papered over sufficiently for Joe Root’s team to beat South Africa, the world’s second-rated Test team, with a bit to spare and there is another series, against the West Indies, coming up in which players can stake a claim to be on the plane to Australia.
Keaton Jennings may be given more time to cement his position as England opener alongside Alastair Cook – he has scored a century in India – but Mark Stoneman is waiting in the wings and there has even been talk of a recall to the Test side for the in-form Alex Hales. Tom Westley hasn’t found it easy batting at number three but has done better than Dawid Malan, who is looking increasingly a stop-gap option – he is definitely vulnerable if a younger option can be found.
There was a more positive contribution by Toby Roland-Jones, however, who has proved an excellent replacement for the injured Chris Woakes. The Middlesex bowler did well with bat and ball in two Tests and should make the final party for Down Under, though a fit Woakes would probably be first choice.
Of course, bowling on Australia’s rock-hard pitches would be an entirely different experience from the bowler-friendly pitches that helped Roland-Jones at the Kia Oval and Old Trafford but he’s been around long enough to adapt. England are a general 5/2 to win the Ashes series in Australia and return the urn with the draw also making some appeal at a general 13/2 as the teams are probably closely matched at present. Nothing seems to faze new England captain Joe Root and the Yorkshireman has some talented players around him including vice-captain Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper/batsman Jonny Bairstow. England bat a long way down the order with the latter, Woakes and Moeen Ali and Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad won’t want to return home from their likely final Ashes tour on the back of defeat.
Australia, however, can be backed at 4/6 to regain the Ashes. Steve Smith and his players are looking forward to welcoming the Poms, but are now ranked a place lower in the Test rankings than the old enemy. But a long-running dispute with Cricket Australia has now been resolved so the team to concentrate on what they do best – beating England.
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