Mail Sport’s experts discuss the talking points ahead of the fourth Ashes Test

England kept the Ashes alive in thrilling fashion at Headingley to set up potentially one of the greatest series of all. 

But what happens next? 

Mail Sport’s experts — former England captain Nasser Hussain, former England coach David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, Cricket Correspondent Paul Newman and Wisden Editor Lawrence Booth — have their say…

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England kept the Ashes alive with a thrilling three-wicket win over Australia at Headingley 

Mail Sport’s experts discuss the major talking points for both sides ahead of the fourth Test

It was a surprise to see Moeen Ali bat at No 3 in the second innings, but should he stay there?

Nasser Hussain: I’d like to see Joe Root at No 3 if he can be persuaded. He is by far the best option and doesn’t have the captaincy to worry about. If not, then at least Moeen went to coach Brendon McCullum and said he wanted to do it, so leave him there.

David Lloyd: Three is a specialist position, and I don’t think Moeen is technically suited to it. But I was impressed that he volunteered, and I’ve got to think about the balance of the side. So, for me, he stays there, even though it’s not ideal.

Paul Newman: The higher Moeen bats, the more like a proper batsman he looks. I had the feeling England were thinking about making this change in the first innings at Headingley and they should have done it then. They can’t move Harry Brook from five again.

Lawrence Booth: No. It was selfless of him to offer to bat at No 3, but it’s a big ask against Australia’s high-quality quicks. I’d try to persuade Root to move for these last two games. One of his best Test innings came at three at Old Trafford: 254 against Pakistan in 2016. Moeen can then play Bazball at No 7.

Moeen Ali (left) came in at No 3 in the second innings, but Joe Root (right) could move there

Should England take Jonny Bairstow out of the firing line? 

Bumble: No. Jonny is their man — and my man. He’s got 12 Test centuries, for goodness sake, and he was player of the year in 2022. I thought he had a decent game with the gloves at Headingley. Yes, he dropped a catch, but we’re all human. And, again, think of the balance of the side.

Booth: It’s a tough one, but I agree with Bumble and I’m sticking with Bairstow. Not because Ben Foakes isn’t a superb player who has been extremely unlucky, but because Bairstow loves it when he has a point to prove — and he does now. There’s nothing a century at Old Trafford wouldn’t put right. He was Bazball’s first standard-bearer and he can do it again now.

Nasser: Only England will know for sure. They can look in Jonny’s eyes and see whether this series has taken its toll. If they are sure his confidence hasn’t been shot, play him. If not, pick Foakes.

Newman: I would have played Bairstow and Foakes from the start but that horse has bolted. I think we all underestimated how much that serious injury took out of Jonny. Clearly his confidence is down but this is no time to turn our back on him.

Jonny Bairstow has struggled with the gloves and also with the bat during this Ashes series

Jimmy Anderson can’t be recalled at Old Trafford for sentimental reasons, can he? 

Booth: No, but they should pick him if he feels he’s ready to go and the pitch offers as much assistance as Headingley. Edgbaston and Lord’s neutered Anderson, but he’s still lethal in the right conditions. They’ll probably have to replace Ollie Robinson, and it would be a gamble to go with Josh Tongue ahead of England’s leading wicket-taker.

Newman: No, but the demise of Anderson has probably been greatly exaggerated. He can’t go on forever but there’s a bit of life in the old dog yet. I’d pick him. Again, he was coming into this series on the back of an injury. He’ll be sharper now.

Nasser: You have to remember Jimmy bowled on two unresponsive pitches before missing out on one that did a bit. I wouldn’t just pick him because he’s Jimmy Anderson and will be bowling from the Jimmy Anderson End. But I still think, if there’s something in the Manchester pitch, he’ll find it.

Bumble: Definitely not. If I know Jimmy, he won’t want sentimentalism to come into it. Robinson won’t play, so it comes down to Anderson versus Tongue, and England saw how Mark Wood put the wind up the Australians at Headingley. Imagine two quicks doing that! Tongue wins out ahead of Anderson.

Jimmy Anderson faltered in the first two Tests but could be recalled for next week’s clash

Stuart Broad said before the series he expected to be rested at some point. Can England do that now? 

Newman: Broad is the ultimate Ashes warrior. I never believed all that stuff about him being happy if he only played one game. He’s a must-pick, the way he’s bowling — and batting at Lord’s — and will probably play all five. England will be all the better for it.

Bumble: No. It’s as simple as that. He’s had a fabulous summer, and has lifted himself for the Ashes — just like Andrew Flintoff used to do. David Warner must be having sleepless nights, and I’m now thinking Broad can play all five, which would be a monumental achievement. Thank goodness they’ve got a 10-day break.

Nasser: Broad should play if fit. He has consistently been England’s best bowler in the series and all pre-Ashes plans go out the window for a must-win game. No point saving him for the Oval, the Ashes might be done by then!

Booth: Nasser is right. Broad has 16 wickets in the series, more than anyone, and is all over Warner. He’s also bowling well to Steve Smith. With the Ashes on the line, you need your big-game players, and Broad is as competitive as anyone in the team — on a par with Ben Stokes. He’s loving the scrap!

Stuart Broad has been in fine form and has a series-high 16 wickets from the first Three Tests

Suddenly, Australia seem to have problems. David Warner, anyone? And can England keep Smith and Labuschagne quiet? 

Nasser: If Australia had won at Headingley, they could have said to Warner ‘Thanks very much’ and moved on. Now they might need his experience at Old Trafford. I’m not so sure England can keep the big two quiet throughout. And you have to remember that Smith scored two hundreds in three Tests before Leeds.

Booth: England must hope Australia remain stubborn about Warner. And they’ve preyed on the obsessiveness of Labuschagne and Smith, who seem to fret when the runs aren’t flowing. For Travis Head, they might start setting more normal fields — he dealt with the bouncer well at Headingley. The key is getting Khawaja.

Bumble: I’d expect Warner to drop out now, which would mean Marcus Harris coming in — a good player, but England won’t be worried. One tell-tale sign is Labuschagne and Smith don’t like it up ’em: they played those shots against Moeen because of Wood’s threat at the other end.

Newman: I feel the same as Bumble. I can’t see how Warner plays. Broad will just have him on toast. Harris has a decent record in England and must be a better bet. Labuschagne has looked well short of his best in this series but Smith is always a threat. Loved his response to Bairstow’s ‘send off’, though. It’s getting to him.

David Warner is under significant pressure at the top of the order after two failures last week

Old Trafford is a turning pitch but Australia don’t trust their back-up spinner. Discuss. 

Bumble: The injury to Nathan Lyon has really upset the Australian applecart. He would have been perfect, with his over-spin, on a hard Old Trafford surface. And Todd Murphy will know now his captain doesn’t trust him. I do wonder whether Cummins just does the toss — Steve Smith seems to make all the decisions.

Booth: Australia might have won the last Test if Lyon had been fit — it said a lot that Murphy bowled only two overs on the final day. Assuming they pick him again in Manchester, it will be England’s chance to go after him. I wouldn’t feel too bad for Australia, though. At least they got one and a bit Tests out of their No 1 spinner. England have been without Jack Leach from the start.

Newman: I thought Cummins handled Murphy poorly on the last day. As Mark Taylor said on Sky, he needed to get him involved earlier. Lyon is a huge miss and that will be particularly felt at Old Trafford. Maybe his injury really was the Glenn McGrath 2005 moment of this Ashes.

Nasser: I disagree. It was difficult to get Murphy into the game on Sunday and he will certainly have a much bigger role to play in Manchester, where there can be turn and bounce. Lyon is a big miss, that’s for sure.

Todd Murphy struggled to have an impact at Headingley after coming in for Nathan Lyon

Do we want another track like Headingley at Old Trafford? And if so, what’s your XI? 

Booth: Yes please. The cricket was absorbing throughout. I’d much rather that than the lifeless surfaces we got for the first two Tests, especially at Edgbaston. I’m bringing in Anderson, assuming he’s ready to go, for Robinson and rejigging the batting line-up. After a lack of runs from Root in the last two games, he feels due a big one.

Nasser: Absolutely. We should have that kind of pitch not only at Old Trafford but throughout world cricket. Take Headingley with us wherever we go. There was something for everyone. If England are confident Bairstow can come through this, I’d make one change — Anderson for Robinson unless it’s an absolute road, in which case Josh Tongue plays.

Bumble: I’m assuming England will have a word with Matt Merchant, the Old Trafford groundsman, and ask him for as much pace as possible, although the weather may dictate that. Whatever happens, it will be a good pitch. It always is, even if the bounce isn’t quite as ferocious as it once was. For me, the only change is Tongue for Robinson.

Newman: One hundred per cent, yes. Ben Stokes said he wanted fast and flat pitches and finally we got something like one at Headingley. Groundsmen, is it really that difficult? Old Trafford is usually one of the best pitches in the country and I’m sure it will be again. The only change for me is Anderson for Robinson.

The fast and flat wicket at Headingley provided for an absorbing four days of Test cricket

If it goes to a decider, will it be the greatest Ashes of your lifetime? 

Bumble: It would be up there with 2005. How do I know that? Because the world and his mate are ringing me up asking for tickets for Old Trafford. I don’t want to spoil the party, but I did say at the start it would be 3-1 to Australia. That said, I know Ben Stokes, and I could be persuaded to change my mind…

Nasser: The 2005 series will always be special, particularly as England hadn’t celebrated an Ashes triumph for so long. We’ve won them a few times since, both home and away, but if this goes to the last Test, it will be right up there, if not better. I said 3-2 either way before this series and when you pushed me, I said 3-2 to England. I’m sticking with that.

Booth: It would be better than 2005, because it would involve the possibility of a historic comeback. And, in the era of the satellite paywall, it’s got the nation talking like no other series since terrestrial TV was squeezed out. Winning three Tests in a row against the world champions is a huge ask, though, so I’m saying 3-2 to Australia.

Newman: If England come back to win, it will be the greatest Ashes series of all time! Especially the way England are doing it. You sensed Australians were sniffy about this idea of England saving Test cricket before the series but that’s exactly what they are doing. I said 3-2 England and I’m not going to change it now!

Given the drama of the first three games, this could be the greatest Ashes series of all-time

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