Express & Star

Changing the guard may be England's Ashes answer

By
Published
Last updated

At least England finally had something to smile about before the urn was surrendered.

Now captain and coach face a testing eight days deciding whether Ben Stokes' fabulous century in Perth can inspire his experienced team-mates to recapture some form, or whether it should herald a changing of the guard.

Stokes' 120 underpinned the tourists' best batting display of the series and extended another one-sided match into the final day.

But Australia's unassailable 3-0 lead is richly deserved and the England hierarchy face many a searching question in the days before the teams reconvene in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Performances Down Under have been so poor that big decisions must be made on several men who have been crucial figures for Cook and predecessor Andrew Strauss. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior looks mentally spent and must surely make way for Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps at the MCG.

But tougher calls await the powers-that-be on three of the men who have sprinkled stardust on several huge series wins in recent years.

Kevin Pietersen is the most gifted batsman in the country but his litany of careless dismissals has hinted at a man complacent about his place in the side. A couple of matches on the sidelines might do him good and send an important message to the team that 'KP' will be treated like all the rest.

Graeme Swann's place seemed cemented just a few weeks ago, but such has been the treatment handed out to England's premier spinner by the Aussie batsmen that his place must now be in doubt. And even James Anderson – the spearhead of the attack for so long – has struggled so badly that his inclusion can no longer be taken for granted.

So do Cook and coach Andy Flower hope Stokes' brilliance rubs off on their established stars. They have just over a week to decide. And there are no easy answers.