Bayliss ready to name first England cricket squad ahead of Ashes

Rory Dollard 07:08 01/07/2015
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  • Big start: Bayliss.

    New England coach Trevor Bayliss will name his first Test squad on Wednesday, with the majority of those who were summoned for a bonding trip in Spain set for the Ashes opener in Cardiff.

    Bayliss, the first Australian to lead England, brought a 14-strong party on a four-day get-to-know-you camp near Almeria and is unlikely to veer too far from that blueprint for the first Test.

    Bayliss may have been brought in to bring fresh ideas to English cricket but the 52-year-old will stick with the core Test group that drew 1-1 with New Zealand under Paul Farbrace’s interim command.

    Of those not invited to Andalusia, Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid, perennially on the cusp of a maiden Test cap, appears to be the most serious contender for a place.

    The all-rounder is clearly on Bayliss’ radar, having performed a key role in a limited-overs squad selected with the new man’s input, but was left to get overs under his belt with Yorkshire rather than travelling.

    Having not even met Bayliss, never mind worked in the nets on tactics and mindset, it would be a leap to expect Rashid to debut in Cardiff but his presence in the squad would give Australia pause for thought and potentially lay the groundwork for a starting spot later.

    Moeen Ali is therefore expected to remain as senior spinner and over-qualified No 8, though his performances with the ball will be under the microscope from day one following his recent struggles.

    Among the group that did join Bayliss for some light training drills, mountain biking and golf at the Desert Springs resort, a couple will have been primed to sit out the series opener.

    Including all-rounder Ben Stokes, seven seam bowlers were in that group and it is likely two of those will not be named in what could be a 13-man squad.

    Left-armer Mark Footitt is the most obvious drop-out, unless he has managed to persuade Bayliss in the space of 96 hours that he is ready to graduate from Division Two cricket with Derbyshire to a high-pressure Test debut.

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