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Check out England's Ashes squad

November 22, 2017 16:33 IST

Penpix of England players in England's Ashes squad:

Joe Root (captain)

Joe Root

IMAGE: Joe Root. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 26

Right-handed top order batsman

England’s talisman and most talented batsman, Root has displayed greater responsibly since taking over as captain earlier this year, averaging more than 60 in tests since. England will depend on the Yorkshire batsman to provide both stability and big scores in the middle order.

Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

IMAGE: Alastair Cook. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 32

Left-handed opening batsman

The former captain is England’s highest test run-scorer (11,629) and the most experienced player (147 caps) in the touring party. A defensive rock at the top of the batting order, Cook will hope to rediscover his 2010-11 Ashes-winning form, when he amassed 766 runs in five tests Down Under.

Mark Stoneman

Mark Stoneman

IMAGE: Mark Stoneman. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 30

Left-handed opening batsman

An understated opening batsman who has been one of the most consistent performers in English county cricket. Stoneman made the step up to test level earlier this year when he received his first cap against West Indies. He has made a impressive start on the Ashes tour, having already recorded a hundred against a Cricket Australia XI last week.

Gary Ballance

Gary Ballance

IMAGE: Gary Ballance. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 27

Left-handed batsman

Ballance has been included in the squad to provide stability in the middle order despite struggling for England after making a brilliant start to his test career. The Yorkshire batsman earned his recall on the back of a splendid county season, finishing with 951 runs at an average of 67.

Dawid Malan

Dawid Malan

IMAGE: Dawid Malan. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 30

Left-handed batsman

Malan’s technique is reliant on his attacking instincts and he has found it difficult to adapt to test cricket since making his debut earlier this year. However, a hundred in England’s warm-up match in Townsville has boosted his chances of featuring in the middle order for the five-match series.

James Vince

Age: 26

Right-handed batsman

James Vince

IMAGE: James Vince. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The Hampshire batsman returns to the squad despite failing to impress in seven tests after making his debut in 2016, managing a modest top score of 42 and averaging just 19. Vince still has plenty to prove at the highest level if is to make the England number three spot his own.

Jonny Bairstow

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow  

IMAGE: England cricketer Jonny Bairstow. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 28

Right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman

A combative batsman, Bairstow has been known to struggle against quicker bowlers on bouncy tracks and his technique will be fully tested in Australia. He will also be expected to stay tidy behind the stumps and provide a strong voice to drive the team forward in the field.

Ben Foakes

Ben Foake

IMAGE: Ben Foake. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 24

Right-handed wicketkeeper-batsmen

The Surrey keeper is one of the five uncapped players to make the cut for the visitors. He finished the county season with 680 runs at an average of 42, including a hundred against Yorkshire at the Oval.

Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali

IMAGE: Moeen Ali. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 30

Spin bowling all-rounder

The all-rounder had a decent outing in the 2015 home Ashes series, scoring 293 runs and collecting 12 wickets with his off-spin. Moeen will also fancy his chances of taking wickets on Australian pitches, which tend to assist slow bowlers in the last two days of test matches.

Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes

IMAGE: Chris Woakes. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 28

Fast bowling all-rounder

With uncertainty surrounding Ben Stokes’ availability, the onus will be on Woakes to fill the void by performing with both bat and ball. He is one of the quickest bowlers in the England ranks and could make an impact with the Kookaburra ball Down Under.

Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad

IMAGE: Stuart Broad. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 31

Right-arm fast bowler

Broad was England’s highest wicket-taker in the last Ashes series at home with 21 wickets and is capable of wreaking havoc on any type of surface. His new-ball bowling spells could be key to England’s success on the tour.

James Anderson

James Anderson

IMAGE: James Anderson. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 35 

Right-arm fast bowler

England’s most prolific wicket-taker will share the new Kookaburra ball with Broad on what is expected to be his final Ashes series Down Under. His experience of Australian conditions could be as vital as his ability to bowl long, tight spells for the visitors.

Craig Overton

Craig Overton

IMAGE: Craig Overton. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 23

Right-arm fast bowler

One of two Somerset fast-bowling twins, Overton was called-up for his naturally aggressive style of bowling that earned him 46 wickets in the county season. He is able to swing the ball and could utilise his height to trouble Australia’s batsmen with steep bouncers.

George Garton

George Garton

IMAGE: George Garton. Photograph: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Age: 20

Left-arm fast bowler

Garton has played just nine first-class matches but was brought in as injury cover for Jake Ball. Only four months after making his Sussex debut in 2016, he was included in an England Lions squad to face Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A, and has impressed on his way to a first senior England call-up.

Tom Curran

Tom Curran

IMAGE: Tom Curran. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 22

Right-arm fast bowler

Curran, who replaced an injured Steven Finn in the squad, has already made the mark for England with three wickets on his one-day international debut against South Africa at Taunton earlier this year. He is also a useful lower-middle order batsman, capable of stitching partnerships with the tail-enders.

Jake Ball

Jake Ball

IMAGE: Jake Ball. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 26

Right-arm fast bowler

Ball has the ability to hit the pitch hard and extract bounce. He recently suffered an ankle injury but could be fit to feature in this week’s first test at Brisbane.

Mason Crane

Mason Crane

IMAGE: Mason Crane. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Age: 20

Right-arm leg-spinner

The leg-spinning rookie was selected for his experience of bowling on Australian pitches for New South Wales, where he has been coached by former Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

Ben Stokes (vice-captain)*

Ben Stokes

IMAGE: Ben Stokes. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Age: 26

Fast bowling all-rounder

One of England’s proven match winners with both bat and ball, Stokes remains a doubt for the Ashes series after he was provisionally suspended for an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September. He remains a key cog in middle order as well as a genuine fast bowling option for skipper Root.

* Named in original squad but has been ruled out of international selection until further notice.

Source: REUTERS
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