Ashes bunnies get NZ lifeline

They failed to impress during the 4-0 Ashes drubbing, but England’s top order are getting a second chance.

According to the Daily Mail’s Paul Newman, England opener Mark Stoneman and No 3 James Vince will have an opportunity to impress on the test tour of New Zealand.

The England squad is named overnight, and coach Trevor Bayliss says the pair deserve another couple of games to show their talents.

‘‘We’ve seen during this series against probably the best bowling attack in the world in their home conditions that they can play a bit,’’ Bayliss told the Daily Mail. ‘‘But at the top level it’s about making big scores.

‘‘Vince has looked as comfortable as anyone in the runs he’s scored here but then he makes a mistake and gets out and it has been similar each time.

‘‘That frustrates him more than any of us, so it’s obviously something he’s got to work on.’’

Vince scored just 242 runs in nine innings in Australia, at an average of 26.88. He scored two fifties, but failed to score a century. His best score was 83.

Stoneman did no better, compiling 232 runs in nine innings, at 25.77. His top score was 56, one of two half-centuries.

The Daily Mail report also suggests one of Liam Livingstone, Dan Lawrence of Joe Clarke will be called up for the New Zealand tests, likely to replace Gary Ballance.