This is a final chance for hopefuls to book an Ashes spot

SAYS SIR IAN BOTHAM

THERE are just three matches to go until the Ashes – and England still have a few issues to iron out.

They won convincingly against South Africa, thanks mainly to the performances of their senior players, such as James Anderson, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow.

But there are still questions about No.2, No.3 and No.5.

And this series against the West Indies is their chance to book their tickets on the plane to Australia.

Unless you have a crystal ball, we don’t know how Mark Stoneman will do, or what Tom Westley and Dawid Malan are capable of yet, so this is their opportunity to show us.

I would just tell them to fill their boots against a side that is not as strong as they once were and, to be honest, is pretty raw and inexperienced.

That is all they can do, but I just worry about how much this series will tell us. I hope the Windies, under Jason Holder (below with England skipper Joe Root, the trophy and the Investec Zebra), put up a real fight. They have some talented bowlers, in particular.

But if they find life as tough as England should make it, will the Windies provide the right benchmark ahead of Australia? You can only hope so. The Ashes is special. It is the toughest cricket you will play and heading over to the other side of the world for that contest has never been for the faint-hearted.

This series is a chance for these newer players to get some idea of what Test cricket is all about.

And for them to know that there will be much more to come their way – if they can cement their spots.