JASON GILLESPIE’S FORM GUIDE
ENGLAND
RORY BURNS 4.5 He is learning his craft and is a player selected for the right reasons, having scored heavily for Surrey, but needs to take the opportunity. Fair play to the selectors for giving him a proper run.
JASON ROY 5.5 Unconventional route into the Test side and I sense England want an attacking batsman up the top to put the onus back on the opposition bowlers.
JOE ROOT (capt) 7.5 Right call to go to three. You have to trust the openers to do their job, to get through the new ball and to allow him to score big runs.
JOE DENLY 5.5 Managed to get some form behind him, with two big hundreds for Kent, after missing out on the World Cup. Leg-spin’s not frontline at Test level but adds value.
JOS BUTTLER 6 By his high standards, he experienced a relatively quiet World Cup but we know what a good player he is. He needs a good long run at Test level to show what he can do.
BEN STOKES 7 I like him at No 6, particularly if he is bowling a decent amount of overs. His maiden Test ton in Perth a few years ago against Mitchell Johnson in his pomp was pure class.
JONNY BAIRSTOW (wkt) 6 Naturally scores quickly and should be given licence to be positive. My one worry is that he does get bowled a lot. Throws his hands at the ball at times but when he is in his best touch, he plays it late under his nose.
MOEEN ALI 6.5 His batting has not been as effective as you might like but he is in the side as a frontline spinner, whose record has been excellent in the last year. A good player but needs patience with the bat.
CHRIS WOAKES 7 Pretty ordinary early in that Ireland Test but came back with a bang. Benefited from some poor batting and a willingness to stick to disciplined lines and lengths, making him dangerous when the ball nibbled off the seam.
STUART BROAD 7 When he is at his best, he is taking his wickets, nicking off batsmen on the front foot, bowled and lbws, which suggests getting his length right is key. Think back to his eight for 15 versus Australia at Trent Bridge. Devastating.
JAMES ANDERSON 7.5 Coming back from a calf injury but he has been devastating in domestic cricket with 30 wickets at under ten. He will test Australia’s batting with his ability to move it both ways.