Uncapped Derbyshire left-arm paceman Mark Footitt has been included in England’s 14-man squad for a pre-Ashes training camp in Spain.
The four-day camp from June 27 will also provide the England squad, led by Test skipper Alastair Cook, with a chance to meet their new coach, Australian Trevor Bayliss.
“With Trevor Bayliss arriving in the country next Thursday, Trevor, Alastair and I felt it important that both players and management likely to be involved in the early stages of the Investec Ashes have a chance to meet him and fully understand his approach prior to meeting up for the start of the Test series,” director of cricket Andrew Strauss said on Thursday.
“With that in mind, we have arranged a preparation camp in Spain,” the former Ashes-winning England captain added.
“This will involve a combination of physical and fielding sessions and planning meetings in an informal environment in order to provide the best possible lead up to the first Test in Cardiff.”
Footitt apart, the squad led by Cook is made up of players who have all featured at some stage during New Zealand’s tour of England.
The bulk of the 14-man party played in the 1-1 Test series draw with the Black Caps, while fast bowlers Steven Finn and Liam Plunkett have both featured in the ongoing one-day series with the World Cup finalists, which will be decided in game five on Saturday in Durham.
England suffered a 5-0 Test series defeat by Australia in 2013/14 when the Ashes were last up for grabs, with the fallout from that thrashing leading to the international exile of star batsman Kevin Pietersen.
However, Australia have not won the Ashes in England since 2001, with England triumphing on home soil in 2005, 2009 and 2013 against their oldest rivals.
This season’s Ashes starts on July 8.
“The squad for the first Test will be announced within a few of days of returning from the camp,” said Strauss.
One of Strauss’ first acts in his new role was to sack former England coach Peter Moores and bring in Bayliss, while appointing assistant coach Paul Farbrace to a caretaker position in the interim.
Under Farbrace, who was Bayliss’ deputy when the Australian was head coach of Sri Lanka, England drew the Test series with New Zealand and are all square at 2-2 in the one-dayers.
England pre-Ashes training camp squad:
Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Mark Footitt, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood
colinp
Guest
I think what is clear is that England have the talent to land some heavy blows on australia, the likes of Stokes, Buttler, Root, Moeen, Wood etc are going to have good test careers, and we are already seeing when they get it right they can have astonishing sessions. However they are young, the whole side is young, and inexperienced and they will likely get 'old manned' by australia in key sessions as england did in summer 2013. If they can maintain their level then it will be closer than most think, but i think inexperience will dictate in the key moments
colinp
Guest
Moeen's inclusion is nothing to do with worries about the tail, he is the best spinner in england. He looked rusty against NZ but will do fine if fit (he may even start bowling the doosra again). I think the australian press will be surprised at Moeen's quality- he is a huge spinner of the ball, biggest in england (off spin) by a long long way, which makes him attacking but at the moment not particularly parsimonious. Broad has been looking like an 11, but seemed to have found his underpants again in the last test, which is good. Wood can play, id say he's of the quality of ryan harris with the bat, dont forget his home ground is Durham, the lowest scoring ground in UK, aside prob Malahide. Mark Stoneman's average is case in point, 30, yet considered close to next cab off rank, which sounds ridiculous, but he plays at durham. Footitt is an absolute rabbit, but seriously quick, if he impresses then he may force Broad out. He should have been picked a year ago, as should Wood (barring injuries), but the previously conservative regime held them back
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
You've got to think Footitt will only play in the Ashes if England are really struggling. The major issue with picking him is that he is renowned as an absolutely shocking number 11 batsman, described by veteran English journo Vic Marks as worse with the blade than the comically-inept Alan Mullally, who averaged 5 with the bat in his 19 Tests. England already have major issues with the way their tail has been folding, particularly since Broad started batting like a number 11. Footitt would need to bat 11, with Anderson at 10 and Broad at 9. That is an extremely weak tail that you'd fancy Australia would slice through. And England are so wary of their weak tail they've been playing a batting all-rounder in Moeen as one of their four specialist bowlers, so you can't see them picking Footitt unless they are desperate or he replaces Broad.
Jake
Guest
And Australia have won 10 of the past 14 series. Those 4 wins by England were an abberation. This English squad looks weak. Only cook and root match their Australian counterparts
JimmyB
Guest
He's an administrator now, so it's fairly normal and probably prudent to name check the sponsors. Still, let's just have a pop at him anyway. Investec Ashes doesn't seem anywhere near as jarring as Quantas Wallabies IMO.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
And over those past six Ashes series, the scoreline is still 14-10 in favour of Australia ;)
Birdy
Guest
I'm sure you do find it odd, James. Then you add in England winning comfortably in 2011 in Oz and in the last 10 years it means England have won 4 of the 6 series, and 3 of the last 4. You'd never guess it by reading these boards, would you?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I love the fact England have made such major changes to their approach and personnel in the ODIs. If they were still playing Cook and Bell at the top I reckon they'd be 4-0 down in this series against NZ. Instead, they're pushing an elite side which made the World Cup final. England are playing ODI cricket which is very watchable. Whatever happens in the ODIs against Australia later this winter it's shaping as a really entertaining series.
JimmyB
Guest
He hasn't done it with the ODI side yet because he doesn't even arrive in the country until next Thursday.
Macca
Guest
Is it just me who finds the idea of England having a training camp in Spain odd?
James
Guest
having been born in 1984 i grew up knowing nothing but australia winning cricket due mainly to the ridiculous gene pool of australians born in the 70s or so that allowed so many legitimate greats to be in the same side. so its freaking amazing for me to read that australia hasnt won the ashes in england in the last 3 tries. i know its real but its still feels weird for something like that to actually be true. having said that i am really quite hopeful that this ashes will be a really good contest, australia is better at the moment but england can still win it if things go right. hopefully a good ashes series that goes to game 4 or 5
Jameswm
Guest
The Investec Ashes? Give me a break. Strauss sure is into the corporate speak.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
I think this is Australia's Ashes to lose and it is the mindset that brings which will determine the winner. They need to stay really aggressive. England's mojo is on rise, the coach needs to add 15-20% to their performance to make them genuine contenders and he's done it with the one day team. Raw aggression will help stop that 15-20%. (Usually keep to rugby section but interested to note what the "mood" is)