ENGLAND head coach Trevor Bayliss has revealed Nick Compton is already facing the axe after a poor start to the summer’s Tests against Sri Lanka.
The Middlesex batsman, 32, has flopped in the line-up against an average Sri Lankan bowling attack.
And after only just keeping his place — for continuity’s sake more than anything else — Australian Bayliss has revealed five candidates who could replace the former Somerset man for the rest of the summer.
Essex’s Tom Westley, Durham’s deadly duo Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick, along with Compton’s county team-mate Sam Robson and Kent’s prolific youngster Daniel Bell-Drummond are the men in the frame.
While Compton may have hit the winning runs in his unbeaten 22 in last week’s nine-wicket win, he has failed to notch a single half-century — for county or country — all season.
Meanwhile, the talented quintet waiting in the wings have a whopping 13 centuries to their name in 2016 alone — who of which, Robson and Borthwick, already have Test experience.
On the matter, Bayliss said: There are a number of players out there scoring runs.
“Going to Lord’s with the same team allows one of those guys to keep that up over the next two or three county matches if we need to make any changes.
“To be honest, I have not seen those guys actually play, so I am going to have to rely on the other selectors and what they think.
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“[Alastair] Cook plays with Westley for example.”
Equally so, Bayliss said he would be more than content giving guys like Bell-Drummond, Robson or Stoneman a crack at No3 in the Three Lions set-up, despite playing their county cricket as openers.
Bayliss added: “That is a possibility, but it is down the track for now.
“I am quite hopeful that everyone in the team can keep going forward and it does not get to that.
“There have been discussions, obviously, over the past month or so, but the team has been winning so there is no reason to change just at the moment.”
Of the five batsmen, all bring something special to the table — with a superb mix of youth, natural talent and a combination of left and right handers.
Bell-Drummond is the youngest at just 22-years-old — despite being on the county circuit for years now.
His rapid rise this season has been hugely encouraging for the England set-up, while former opener Robson kicked off the season with a double-ton against Warwickshire at the Home of Cricket.
Westley’s rise from near-obscurity to Three Lions candidate has been the most startling however, but Borthwick’s ability with the ball also hands Bayliss and Co an option.
The Durham all-rounder played his only Test against Australia for his leg-spinning ability — taking four wickets, while scoring just five runs.
Borthwick pushed his claim ever further after striking a superbly crafted 188 not out against Nottinghamshire… In front of England director of cricket and selector Mick Newell.
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