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The Ashes 2015: Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Jack Brooks in frame

Sky Sports' David Fulton names some contenders to face Australia

Jonathan Bairstow of Yorkshire
Image: Jonny Bairstow could slot into England's middle order, says David

With Ben Stokes shining with bat and ball during the Test series against New Zealand and seamer Mark Wood impressing, too, there are seemingly few spots up for grabs in England’s Ashes line-up.

But David Fulton insists that there is still a chance for players to force their way into contention for the series with Australia, which begins in Cardiff on July 8, live on Sky Sports Ashes.

The former Kent opener championed the cases of Yorkshire trio Adil Rashid, Jonny Bairstow and Jack Brooks when he dropped into the Sky Sports News HQ studio on Wednesday.

Plus, Fulton explained why Steven Finn, sent home from England’s 2013-14 tour of Australia after being deemed “un-selectable” could play a crucial role in the battle for the urn…

ADIL RASHID

Adil Rashid bowling for Yorkshire
Image: Fulton says Rashid is a better spinner than Moeen

FULTS SAYS: Adil and Moeen Ali are the same age and have played a similar number of first-class games but Rashid has taken almost 400 wickets and Moeen not even 200. Moeen is a batter first so if he is going to bat at eight, as he did against New Zealand, you could say why don’t we go with Rashid, who is a better spinner and more than capable batsman? You could even drop a seam bowler or maybe even a batsman for Cardiff and go with both.

JONNY BAIRSTOW

More from The Ashes 2015

Jonny Bairstow training with England Lions
Image: Bairstow could also keep wicket if needed

FULTS SAYS: It’s extraordinary what’s happened to Bairstow. He was reserve wicketkeeper for England in the Caribbean and then didn’t do anything wrong in the rain-affected ODI with Ireland, yet is suddenly out of the team. He has got two hundreds and three fifties in first-class cricket this season, hitting sixes and fours but also, at times, shepherding the tail. I think he could play as a batter should we lose someone in the middle order.

STEVEN FINN

Image: Finn is getting back to his best, says Fulton

FULTS SAYS: I think Finn is getting closer. This time last year he was taking a bucket-load of wickets but bowling ordinary, this year he hasn’t taken anywhere near the amount of wickets but he is bowling quick and going past the outside edge. He has taken 90 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of under 30 and has the pace and height, while getting Brendon McCullum out in the first ODI against New Zealand would have boosted his confidence.

THE OTHER SEAMERS

Jack Brooks holds the ball aloft after taking five wickets against Middlesex
Image: Brooks played minor-counties cricket until the age of 24

FULTS SAYS: England are in good order in pace-bowling terms, with Finn, Chris Jordan and Liam Plunkett capable of coming in, but there are others, too. Derbyshire left-armer Mark Footitt has good pace if you want to hit Mitchell Johnson and co with their own medicine, takes wickets and can also swing the ball, while Yorkshire’s Jack Brooks, a late developer, loves the big occasion, hits the bat hard, is quicker than you think, and is in good form.

Watch the Ashes, live on Sky Sports' dedicated Ashes channel, from Wednesday, July 8.

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