Selection Dilemma ahead of Fourth Ashes Test

England and Ben Stokes pulled off the impossible at Headingley. 

359 is the highest fourth-innings chase for an English team ever and a 10th-wicket partnership of 76 between Stokes (135*) and Jack Leach (1*) sealed an incredible victory for the home side. However this should not be enough to cover the utter failure of the first-innings 67 all out.

Ben Stokes's 135 won the third Test for England

Second-innings 50's for Joe Denly and Joe Root have relieved some of the pressure on themselves but low scores again from Rory Burns and Jason Roy may call for a change opening the batting.

Warwickshire opener Dominic Sibley seems to be the favourite choice to fill any gap, with almost 1000 First Class runs so far this season at an average of over 55. There is no one with more runs this year in the County Championship and he is many pundits selection to make his debut at Old Trafford.

Further down the order Johnny Bairstow scored a very valuable 36, taking pressure off Stokes as the hosts edged towards their target on the fourth day. Backed up by a half-century and unbeaten 30* at Lords, it leaves Jos Buttler the most vulnerable part of the lower-middle order.

In a summer where most of the squad has played a part in every game since the start of May, he might just need a week off to recharge and find some energy again ahead of what could be a decisive fifth test at the Oval.

Ollie Pope was called up for the 3rd Test Squad after
200 for Surrey.

Ollie Pope joined the 3rd Test squad on the back of a double-hundred for Surrey and seems to be the next batsman in for the England side that can't afford to lose another Test in this series.

A straight swap seems the likely option, even if it's only for a single match.

The bowling front is more positive however.
Jofra Archer took his first 5 wicket haul in just his second Test and Stuart Broad continues to chip away at the Australian top-order as the leader of the attack.

Jack Leach will keep his place, leaving the under-bowled Chris Woakes with a question mark over his head, especially with England's highest ever Test wicket taker James Anderson returning to fitness at Lancashire.

James Anderson is building his fitness ahead of an
expected recall. 

A calf injury in the first Test set him back but after bowling 20 overs for Lancashire 2nd XI and another game taking place before the match it seems he'll at least be around the squad as they look to take the momentum Ben Stokes has provided them with and take a huge lead in the tightly fought series.

Although it is entirely possible that the selectors will look to keep faith with the XI that won at Headingley and name the same team across the pennines in Manchester.

My England XI for the 4th Test:

Burns; Sibley; Root; Denly; Stokes; Bairstow; Pope; Archer; Broad; Leach; Anderson.