Vince recalled, Stokes included in Ashes squad
London, UK - James Vince and Gary Ballance have been recalled as part of England's Ashes squad on Wednesday.
Somerset's Craig Overton is one of three uncapped players in the 16-man party which includes Ben Stokes, who retains the vice-captaincy despite being under a cloud following his arrest in Bristol on Sunday.
The all-rounder, 26, has a minor finger fracture on his right hand after an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol but is expected to be fit for the tour.
Ben Foakes, Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman, and Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane are the other uncapped names who have made the cut.
Toby Roland-Jones has been ruled out with the stress fracture of his back and Mark Wood has been considered too much of a fitness gamble for the strains of bowling in Australia.
Tom Westley is the latest top-order player to be tried and dropped after his returns tailed away following a promising debut against South Africa. Vince is set to replace him at No 3 despite averaging just 19.27, with a top score of 42, in his seven outings against Sri Lanka and Pakistan last year.
Ballance, who was part of the XI earlier this season against South Africa before breaking a finger at Trent Bridge, has again earned the backing of his captain Joe Root although will have to battle with Dawid Malan for the No 5 berth during the opening weeks of the tour.
Of the three new faces, Somerset quick Overton has benefited from a strong finish to the season as well as the injuries to Roland-Jones and Wood. He and Jake Ball will provide the fast-bowling support to James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, the latter now shaping as a certain starter in Brisbane.
Whether Stokes is part of England's pace attack at the Gabba remains uncertain with the police investigation into Sunday's incident outside a Bristol nightclub ongoing.
Foakes will provide wicketkeeping cover for Jonny Bairstow, although there is a potential balance of England's side that has him with the gloves at No 7 and Bairstow in the problematic No 5 slot. But that would appear any unlikely route, with so much onus put on England's engine room of Stokes, Bairstow and Moeen Ali at six, seven and eight. England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Ben Foakes (wk), Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes. Ashes Tests
November 23-27:
Brisbane
December 2-6:
Adelaide
December 14-18:
Perth
December 26-30: Fourth Test, Melbourne
January 4-8: Fifth Test, Sydney. First Test, Second Test, Third Test,