England: Ashes ladder

Three months after my previous England Ashes ladder, what's changed? England have lost a Test series they were expected to win, won an ODI series when their tour threatened to go off the rails, and are set to appoint Andy Flower as their new coach. So who's up and who's down from three months ago?

[b]1) Andrew Strauss [/b][b](-)[/b]
His position could hardly be more secure.

[b]2) Alastair Cook (+1)[/b]
Finally ended his century drought to confirm his status as an automatic selection.

[b]3) Kevin Pietersen (+1)[/b]
Has been well below his best of late but, providing his head is in the right place, absolutely will play.

[b]4) James Anderson (+7)[/b]
A huge winner from the West Indies tour: advanced from being out of the side to being England's premier quick bowler, bowling with immense skill with new and old ball alike.

[b]5) Stuart Broad (+1)[/b]
Continues to demonstrate the skill and, especially, the temperament to relish an Ashes challenge, even if England would ideally like him to be their number eight and fourth seamer.

[b]6) Paul Collingwood (+1)[/b]
A fine tour of the West Indies, aided by the struggles of Bell and Shah, has made Collingwood a certain starter.

[b]7) Andrew Flintoff (-5)[/b]
A disappointing Test series in the West Indies - and, more importantly, more injury worries. However, if fit, England couldn't leave out their 'talismanic' all-rounder? Or could they?

[b]8) Matt Prior (-3)[/b]
Appears unfortunate to slip three places after batting magnificiently in the Test series in the West Indies. However, his keeping continues to be a source of great concern. And, if Flintoff is not in the side and England only select four bowlers, the need to hang onto every chance may supersede the extra runs Prior could bring. Still, would have to do a lot wrong in the next three months.

[b]9) Graeme Swann (-)[/b]
Swann was superb in the West Indies, providing a fine example of the classical off-spinners' craft. He fully deserves his chance against Australia, particularly given their dislike for off-spinners.

[b]10) Steve Harmison (-2)[/b]
Endured a poor tour of the West Indies - but his replacement Amjad Khan was even more disappointing. If he can start the season well, may yet get another chance against Australia.

[b]11) Michael Vaughan (+5)[/b]
His reputation has increased hugely of late other contenders have struggled while he has been in the runs for Yorkshire - albeit in Dubai. All the signs indicate England would like him to bat at three (or why not open?) in the Ashes, providing he can show some semblance of form in the meantime.

[b]12) Monty Panesar (+1)[/b]
Displayed some increased variations when recalled for the final Test in the West Indies, Panesar is near-certain to feature in the Ashes. But that may well be as England's second-chopice spinner, providing they can recognise that is one area in which they may just enjoy supremacy over Australia.

[b]13) Owais Shah (-1)[/b]
Given his long-overdue chance, Shah struggled. But he may yet get another two Tests against the West Indies to show he has the technique and temperament to bat at number three. But would England trust him in an Ashes campaign?

[b]14) Ravi Bopara (+6)[/b]
A fine century in his only Test innings of the winter will have only boosted his chances, despite mediocre ODI returns. However, would England really be happy to pick such an inexperienced player to bat at number three - especially one who appears the happiest of hookers?

[b]15) Ryan Sidebottom (-)[/b]
Played when patently unfit in the Carribean and it would be of little surprise if he never played international cricket again.

[b]16) Adil Rashid (+1)[/b]
Were England not impressed with what they saw in the West Indies? How else to explain his non-selection over Gareth Batty? But if England, as they should, prepare turning tracks for the Aussies then he could feature as a secret weapon.

[b]17) Tim Ambrose (+2)[/b]
Scored a fluent 76* in his only innings on tour, while his keeping was of a higher calibre than Prior's. So if England only play four bowlers, he could have a chance of selection, even if few would really fancy his chances of scoring big against Australia given his struggles against South Africa.

[b]18) Mark Davies (N/A)[/b]
Could be coming good at just the right time, having had a strong tour with the England Lions in New Zealand. He has been afflicted by injuries throughout his career, but at 28 he should be in the form of his life. And his statistics: 232 wickets at 21 in first-class cricket are mindbogglingly good.

[b]19) Sajid Mahmood (N/A)[/b]
Yes, yes. But Mahmood has all the raw attributes to be a destructive wicket-taker at international level. And, given how Harmison and Khan performed in the West Indies, he has an outside chance of featuring.

[b]20) Simon Jones (-6)[/b]
Injured again. But if he could only put together a handfull of impressive performances, temptation would run high.

[b]21) Ian Bell (-11)[/b]
Dropped after the First Test debacle and not seen since. Bell will play again for England but probably not until this summer has passed.

[b]22) Robert Key (-1)[/b]
Captain of the England Lions, and perhaps England in the World Twenty20 too, Key is a character who inspires respect. But competition for the number three spot is fierce.

[b]23) Amjad Khan (-5)[/b]
Did himself no favours in the West Indies with shoddy fielding and wayward bowling.

[b]24) Kabir Ali[/b]
If the England side was selected on county form from the last two seasons, Ali would be in. As it is, he isn't even deemed good enough for the Lions.

[b]25) Matthew Hoggard[/b]
He's still hoping. But few are joining him.

[b]Bubbling under[/b]
Batsmen: Joe Denly, Samit Patel, Eoin Morgan, Mark Ramprakash
Keepers: James Foster, Steven Davies
Bowlers: Darren Pattinson, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett

[b]What are your views on this ladder and the makeup of the England side?[/b]

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