Stokes in squad despite arrest; has "minor fracture" in right hand
Stokes remains vice-captain "pending disciplinary procedures"
Vince & Ballance recalled; Westley omitted
Uncapped Crane, Foakes, Craig Overton in squad
Ashes begin on 23 November in Brisbane
Vote: Should Stokes play in the Ashes?
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Jimmy Dawson: Was so excited about this, I look at this squad and all the life has been sucked out of me
This is the sort of positivity that is going to power us through five overnight Tests, Jimmy.
Meanwhile, former England captain David Gower has told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Ben Stokes is pivotal to the Ashes squad.
Cricket legend David Gower says Ben Stokes would have been top of the Ashes list
A lovely tweet from Craig Overton's twin brother, Jamie.
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Alex Crawford: Can't fathom James Vince in the Ashes Squad - By comparison Jeetan Patel has scored more CC runs this year - poor Sam Robson.
Alex Blanchard: Aussies are hardly in the best shape themselves. Can't see many of their gun bowlers players all five Tests and batting is fragile.
More from James Whitaker: “Surrey’s Ben Foakes deserves his selection for the first time at this level. His glovework has been exemplary and he is regarded as a wicketkeeper of the highest quality. He has the ability to contribute with the bat.
“Craig Overton will now get his chance at Test level. We have been impressed with the way he has led Somerset’s attack over a long period of time. He will relish playing in Australian conditions.
“The selectors are backing James Vince to make an impact on his recall to the Test squad. He is a quality strokeplayer and we believe his game will suit the Australian pitches. His understanding of the England set-up will help him settle into the environment quickly and hit the ground running when we arrive in Perth next month.”
Image source, Getty ImagesIncidentally, here's a quick run down of the important stats for the more unexpected faces:
Our man at The Oval, Simon Mann, makes an interesting point...
There's some changes to the backroom staff, too.
Ex-New Zealand bowler Shane Bond has been appointed fast bowling consultant in the absence of Ottis Gibson and will be part of the management until the end of the Adelaide Test.
Paul Collingwood will also take up a coaching role during the Test series and the ODI series afterwards. Kent head coach Matt Walker will also be involved in the T20 tri-series in Australia and New Zealand.
Image source, Getty Images
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live
Ben Stokes is staying as vice-captain. I think this is one of the weakest squads I've seen. The issues in the top order are laid bare here, James Vince is a real surprise call and Gary Ballance averages 19 from his last five Tests.
It's clear, the pressure is on Cook and Root, who it seems certain will bat at four, rather than three.
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Steve Urry: TMS must be relishing the Foakes, Woakes, Stokes commentary opportunities...
National selector James Whitaker: “A tour of Australia is the ultimate test for our squad. We have provided Joe Root and Trevor Bayliss with a well-balanced squad with options in all areas.
“After a successful summer, having won the Test series against South Africa and West Indies, there is real competition for places and we have selected a squad that will work hard and compete against Australia, aiming to win the Ashes."
Image source, AFPSo, it's as expected. Recalls for James Vince and Gary Ballance, Jake Ball in favour of Mark Wood, a call-up for Craig Overton and Ben Foakes over Jos Buttler.
Thoughts? With the best will in the world, that is a weak-looking squad to me. So many questions over the batting positions... use #bbccricket or text 81111.
Here we go. The 17 to tour Australia are:
Three minutes to go. I can see Simon Mann lurking in the press conference, ready for James Whitaker, who will announce the squad.
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Sam Crompton: Vince, Ballance, Crane have done little to warrant inclusion. What does Leach have to do? Bats not done enough to drop Westley
Tom Bennett: Mason Crane over Jack Leach is a shocker
Spin. Yeah.
Moeen is the main spinner and rightly so, and he's invaluable at number eight, but who backs him up?
There's three choices: Adil Rashid was the back up in India and ended that series as the leading wicket taker, but there's a sense that England don't have total faith in him.
Mason Crane has spent a lot of the summer tailing the Test squad as the back-up spinner, but he's played just seven County Championship matches this season, in which he took 16 wickets.
Somerset's Jack Leach,who has got comfortable with his new action and has taken 46 first-class wickets this season, is also a likely and sensible option. He also wears glasses, like all good spinners should do.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe let you lot pick your Ashes XI, and then put together your ideal squad of 17 to head over to Australia.
You can have a look at the results over here. And if you're one of the 2% of people who didn't pick Joe Root, then do talk me through that one.
Obvs, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have a seat on the plane, and Chris Woakes too. But who partners them?
Mark Wood -who would have been a handful on bouncy pitches, looks set to miss out due to concerns over a long-term heel injury. It looks as though he'll tour Australia with the Lions instead.
With Toby Roland-Jones almost certainly out with a stress fracture, Jake Ball could be the next in line. He's taken two wickets in his three Tests at an average of 114.00, but his height could be well-utilised on Australian pitches.
Craig Overton has had a profitable season for Somerset, and has a current tally of 186 first-class wickets at an average of 26.48.
Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett is an outside shout, as is Steven Finn.
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James Fisher: If Mark Wood isn't on that plane we've had it. Catastrophic lack of pace in our attack compared to Australia
Neil Boughton: Ballance again? When will the selectors realise he's not good enough! Hildreth has scored run after run and never had a look in
This feels like a slightly weird countdown, but England don't really know what to do about their number five, either.
Ballance is again an option - and, you suspect, would look more comfortable at five - but he's not had much success this year. His highest score for Yorkshire since he returned from breaking his finger is 29.
The current incumbent is Dawid Malan. He made his debut against South Africa and has a top score of 65, but an average of 23.62 shows his struggles.
Again, there's the option of shifting some people around. The most obvious candidate would be Ben Stokes but he works at six, and it seems pointless to disrupt the only settled part of England's batting order.
Alex Hales would be better suited to a middle-order berth, and he's scored in all three formats for Notts this year. Kent's Sam Northeast is another option. He averages 50.85 in first-class cricket this season. And there's Ben Foakes, who looks set to be named back-up keeper.
