THE FOUR CONTENDERS FOR No 3

Since Jonathan Trott went home from the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia, England have used six different batsman at No 3 for more than five innings but few have been able to make the position their own. The spot is up for grabs again.

MOEEN ALI

Positions batted 1-9 Best position by ave 4 ( 256 runs at 51.20) Has scored 82 runs in five innings at No 3 since taking over the role from Joe Root halfway through the fourth Test against India at Southampton in September. But his technique may be too loose and better suited to the No 8 position he filled so successfully during the 2015 Ashes.

JONNY BAIRSTOW

Positions batted 4–8 Best position by ave 6 ( 1,301 runs at 41.97) The stellar success of Ben Foakes may mean this is Bairstow’s only one way back into the team — and not as wicketkeeper. He was unhappy to find himself as high as No 4 against India at Southampton, where he batted with a fractured finger and made six and 0. But, assuming he’s fit, he may not be given the choice.

JOS BUTTLER

Positions batted 2, 6–8 Best position by ave 6 224 runs at 44.80) Would have batted at No 3 in Galle if England had batted second and Ali needed a break after bowling. But he has averaged nearly 45 from No 6 and 7 since his return to the Test side and his lower/middleorder bail-outs have been a feature of England’s recent successes.

BEN STOKES

Positions batted 4–8 Best position by ave 6 ( 2375 runs at 37.11) Stokes, right, would open for England and bowl off-breaks if the management asked him, so the whisper that he’s keen to bat at No 3 comes as no surprise. But his secondinnings 62 at Galle was a reminder of his tight technique against spin, Moeen Ali could then drop to No 8.