England stick by Nick Compton but Steven Finn will have to fight off new rival

Best foot forward: Compton will have to improve on his county form this season to keep his England place
Stu Forster/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse12 May 2016

Nick Compton was the big winner in England’s First Test squad of the summer after convincing the selectors to stick with him against Sri Lanka.

was the big winner in England’s First Test squad of the summer after convincing the selectors to stick with him against Sri Lanka.

Compton’s spot at No3 looked to be under threat following last winter’s tour of South Africa, when coach Trevor Bayliss suggested he would like two attacking batsmen in the top three.

As both Compton and Alastair Cook have a methodical style, those comments seemed to leave the Middlesex man vulnerable – especially as he has yet to pass 50 in the County Championship this summer, with 44 his top score.

Yet England decided to keep faith with Compton, 32, and if he starts the summer strongly, he should retain his spot for the remainder of it. The First Investec Test against Sri Lanka starts a week today at Headingley, with matches at Durham and Lord’s to follow.

The retention of Compton means Joe Root, the side’s best batsman, will stay at No4, with Hampshire’s James Vince slotting in at No5 for his first Test cap.

Alex Hales’ place was also in doubt after a patchy time in South Africa, but he has kept his spot as Cook’s opening partner. Cook has not had a regular ally against the new ball since the retirement of Andrew Strauss four years ago. Strauss is now the managing director of England cricket.

ENGLAND SQUAD

Alastair Cook (Captain, Essex)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
James Vince (Hampshire)
Nick Compton (Middlesex)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Jonny Bairstow (Wkt, Yorkshire)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)

As reported by Standard Sport yesterday, Jake Ball is the other newcomer in the 12-man party. Ball will fight Steve Finn for the final place alongside Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes in the seam attack. Ball has started the season in outstanding fashion for Nottinghamshire, taking 19 Championship wickets.

Finn has yet to find his best form for Middlesex, but it would be harsh to drop a man who was part of a series-winning side in South Africa.

Broad and Ball are team-mates at Nottinghamshire and Broad said: “I’ve seen a lot of Jake over the last three or four years. He’s developed quickly in the last 18 months — he’s tall, has good pace and moves the ball both ways.

“He gets top-order batsmen out and it’s a great reward for early-season county form. It’s always a good sign when a player performs in televised games against big players.

Wisden cricketers of the year

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“Jake is relatively similar to me in terms of style and what he tries to do with the ball. We are good friends and I will help him through but he’s the kind of guy who you just let go. Advice will come when he maybe tours a new country or plays at a new ground.”

National selector James Whitaker said: “Both Jake Ball and James Vince thoroughly deserve their opportunities, having performed well with the England Lions and starting the season in good form. James is already well regarded by the England coaches in the short format.”

Alongside the Test squad, England have also named a 30-man performance squad, with Ian Bell included. The Warwickshire batsman, who has played 118 Tests, was excluded from the touring party to South Africa and the side for Headingley, despite starting the season with a century and a 50.

With Bayliss and Cook keen to build a younger squad, it appears unlikely that Bell, at 34, will be recalled in the near future. Although he is in the performance squad, this appears chiefly to be because he still has a central contract.

Strauss said: “This is the first time in two seasons we have selected an England Performance Squad. I feel that it is important that we do so to enable our staff to monitor effectively those players who are on our radar, but not necessarily part of one of the England teams.

“It is also important to point out that it does not confine the selectors to pick from this squad.”

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