Ashes 2017/18: Who starts for England in first Test in Brisbane?


England sealed a 2-1 Test victory over West Indies at Lord's on Saturday, and that means the next time they step out in a Test match will be in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in November.

And while the likes of Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and most memorably of all James Anderson have had fine summers, there remain doubts over a few spots in the England XI.

Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad appear certainties to join that quintet in the team, fitness permitting, but who joins them?

Using the Sky Bet odds, we take a look at who is likely to line-up in Brisbane on November 23.

Mark Stoneman - 1/6

His price was slashed from 7/2 to 1/2 after he was picked for the first Test against West Indies. And, despite a pretty mediocre return in the three-match series, he's the man in possession and has been chopped further still. The Surrey opener's credentials have been proven in his first season at The Oval having racked up 828 runs at a shade under 60. Stoneman has made the trip to the capital to further his quest for fame and fortune and now it looks like that decision could be paying dividends.

Dawid Malan - 1/5

For Stoneman, read Malan. England's incumbent number five has been chopped in from 6/5 to long odds-on despite passing 50 only twice in his Test career to date. The classy left-hander showed some grit and stickability against a surprisingly competitive West Indies and has a fine record for the Lions and in white-ball cricket. But unlike at the top of the order, where options to displace Stoneman appear limited, Malan will be looking nervously over his shoulder.

Tom Westley - 10/11

The big loser of the West Indies series. Failed to add to the one half-century he made against South Africa, and his habit of aiming most deliveries through the legside has been his undoing more than once. Having gone into the latest series at 2/9 for Brisbane, he's now barely clinging on to favouritism.

Haseeb Hameed - 11/8

England have made little secret that the precocious 20-year-old Lancastrian is their preferred long-term option to be Alastair Cook's opening partner, and has shown enough glimpses of a return to the fine form he showed last winter in India to earn a spot on the plane. Trimmed from 2/1 to 11/8, and could nip in at either two or three in Brisbane

Gary Ballance - 100/30

His price has fallen from 13/2 to 100/30 based purely on Westley's struggles. Ballance suffered a broken finger during a torrid return to the side in the South Africa series, and his unusual technique continues to have pundits scratching their heads. He has made a stack of runs with it, though, in both Test and Championship cricket, and remains one of captain Joe Root's most trusted lieutenants. Could that - and the failings of others - be enough to earn him yet another chance?

Keaton Jennings - 11/2

Jennings was ditched after after a woeful series with the bat against South Africa. A top score of 48 in his eight innings underlined his struggles as the South African attack exposed his weakness on or about his off-stump. But the Durham left-hander's odds have shortened significantly, although that again is more to do with the failure of others to nail down a place than his own endeavours.

Alex Hales - 6/1

He has carried his prolific white-ball form into the County Championship, with a run-a-ball double-hundred in his new preferred position in the Nottinghamshire middle order, and his record was far from the weakest of those who've come and gone as Alastair Cook's opening partner. Has drifted from 7/2 a month ago, though, with England perhaps favouring the more solid Malan given the explosive middle-order axis provided by Stokes, Bairstow and Moeen.

Chris Woakes – 4/7

A year ago, Woakes would have been among the list of absolute certainties. But an injury-wrecked summer has opened the door to Toby Roland-Jones. Woakes' chances may, if anything, have suffered from his recall for the shock defeat at Headingley where he looked well short of a gallop. Replaced again by Roland-Jones again for the decider, which England duly won at a canter.

Mark Wood – 3/1

Durham’s injury-prone seamer always seems to be battling for full fitness. It was a heel injury during the recent South Africa series but his place was already under threat following a wicketless effort in the second-Test hammering at Trent Bridge. Roland-Jones’ starring role and Woakes’ return leaves him facing an uphill battle to regain a spot and is odds against just to make the squad and surely shouldn't be shorter than Roland-Jones to start in Brisbane.

Toby Roland-Jones – 100/30

Grabbed his chance with both hands after making his debut in the third Test against South Africa. Ended the series with 10 wickets at 22 apiece. Having played less dramatic but not insignificant parts in the victories at Edgbaston and Lord's, his England record now reads played four, won four. The fact a barely-fit Woakes came back at Leeds suggests how England still view the pecking order. TRJ now a certainty to be on the plane, and probably a touch big to start the series given his game appears well-suited to the Gabba.

Mason Crane – 8/1

England will take a specialist spinner to Australia but whether it will be 20-year-old Crane remains open to question. It's likely England would have given him a Test debut at Lord's had they wrapped the series up at Headingley - although it's ultimately doubtful how much bowling he'd have done given the way that third Test played out. Appears to be the next cab off the rank, but England will be taking a huge risk taking Crane - who has a mediocre Championship record - to Australia as their second spinner, and an even bigger one throwing him into the XI. He's 8/13 to make the plane.

England's XI for the first Ashes Test (based on the odds)

  1. Alastair Cook
  2. Mark Stoneman
  3. Tom Westley
  4. Joe Root
  5. Dawid Malan
  6. Ben Stokes
  7. Jonny Bairstow
  8. Moeen Ali
  9. Chris Woakes
  10. Stuart Broad
  11. James Anderson

Related links

Sky Bet's latest cricket odds

Like what you've read?

MOST READ

Sporting Life
Join for free!
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Race Replays
My stable horse tracker
giftOffers and prize draws
newsExclusive content

Next Off

Fixtures & Results

Fetching latest games....
We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo