We have Jos the plan says Paine

TIM PAINE is backing his bowling attack to smother potentially the most dangerous middle order in international cricket for a second Test running.

England’s powerful trio ofWorld Cup winners at five, six and seven – Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow – posted five single-figure scores and just 76 runs between them at Edgbaston.

The Aussie skipper, admitting his side are wary of a backlash, said: “We haven’t spoken about any of their batsmen being a weakness, particularly their middle order, who are as dangerous as any around in international cricket.

“When you’ve got Buttler, Stokes and Bairstow, we’ve seen how devastating they can be. It was great to keep them quiet in the first Test, but we know it’s a long series and, Test cricket being Test cricket, they are going to have their day eventually.

“But we’ve got some plans in place for all of them and, if we execute well, then we’ve half a chance.” Stokes was the only batsman from England’s middle to post a score of note in Birmingham, with a half-century in the first innings.

Buttler and Bairstow look to have run out of form after their World Cup heroics.

All three will have to face a fresh challenge at Lord’s – a place where Australia have traditionally proved strong with 17 wins in 38 Ashes Tests – after Paine said he would shuffle his bowling pack.

Josh Hazlewood, who has taken 37 Ashes wickets in the last two series, looks to have edged a battle with Mitchell Starc to replace James Pattinson, who is to being rested this week.

Paine said: “They are both world-class bowlers and when you leave guys like that out, particularly two of them at a time, you can see what sort of people they are.We’ve been really impressed with both of them.”

Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine (capt, wkt), Cummins, Siddle, Hazlewood, Lyon