The Story
England cricket team is engaged with West Indies in white ball action, but the focus is on the upcoming Ashes 2017 set to be hosted Down Under.
England are pretty confident of battering Australia on their home soil, all thanks to their current form. Australia’s current form as a unit and injury trouble adds weight to the assumption with which England are comfortable.
However, as admitted by coach Trevor Bayliss and skipper Joe Root, the English side has its share of weakness and gaps to fill before heading into the contest.
The questions about the top order, in particular, remains unanswered. Inexperience has been one cause with the arrival of the likes of Mark Stoneman, Tom Westley, and David Malan. The trio is currently vying for places in the side after making their debut recently.
However, whether they are suitable enough to face the Aussies in their backyard is a puzzle waiting to be solved as of now.
“The big question is whether the three guys we have been speaking about all summer have done enough. Are they good enough for long enough? Are they tough enough especially for an Ashes series? We will be discussing other players we have had in the team over the last 12-18 months will get a hearing but these three guys it will be hard to go past them,” said Bayliss recently.
Excellent opportunity for Hales
While this surrounding debate ability of the fresh faces continues, the 11 Test old Alex Hales, is calmly waiting to prove his worth and earn a place in the touring side.
The upcoming ODI series against Windies will prove as a great opportunity for him to put his case in front of the selectors, according to former English cricketer Rob Key.
“Alex Hales has gone up a notch as far as his attacking batting is concerned this season.”
There are a couple of reason hales to be optimistic about his chances. The first and foremost being the lack of a proper opener. So far, 12 men opened with veteran Alastair Cook in tests after the retirement of Andrew Strauss back in 2012.
“We used to see Jason Roy as the one getting off to a flyer and then Hales catching up but now he finds sixth gear very early. He has been hammering it from ball one in T20, so it will be interesting to see if he carries on in the 50-over format.”
“You have a bit more time to bed into ODIs – and that could help Hales’ hopes of an Ashes spot. More of his technique, more of his temperament will be on display in these games and if he fires, he might well be on the plane to Australia. The same goes for Jos Buttler.”