England Ashes squad: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Joe Root(c), Dawid Malan, Gary Ballance, James Vince, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Mason Crane, Ben Foakes, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jake Ball, Craig Overton, Tom Curran, George Garton.
2/13
In Stokes’ absence, veteran seamer James Anderson has been elevated as the vice captain of the side. (Photo: AP)
3/13
Anderson has been in red-hot form, leading the visitors to a comfortable victory over CA XI in the tour game. (Photo: AP)
4/13
Dawid Malan’s position in the middle order is more or less confirmed after his well-constructed half-century in the tour game. (Photo: Twitter/ICC)
5/13
In that case Gary Balance may have to sit out in the first game with Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow being automatic choices in the middle order. (Photo: AFP)
6/13
Craig Overton, Mason Crane and Ben Foakes are uncapped cricketers in England’s squad. (Photo: AFP)
7/13
Sussex seamer George Garton will join the tourists in Australia after scans showed Ball strained a ligament while bowling in the warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide.
8/13
Initially Ben Stokes was included in the 16-member squad even after his arrest for getting involved in brawl at Bristol. (Photo: AFP)
9/13
Then the England Cricket Board announced that Stokes will not be considered for selection till the time he is cleared of all the charges. (Photo: AFP)
10/13
Fast bowler Steven Finn was drafted into the squad as a replacement of Stokes. (Photo: AFP)
11/13
But even he had to be replaced after suffering an injury and Tom Curran was called in as his replacement. (Photo: AFP)
12/13
England were forced to make further changes after fast bowler Jake Ball suffered an ankle sprain during the tour game, which made him a doubtful starter for the first Test starting on November 23. (Photo: AP)
13/13
England’s decision to announce their Ashes squad well in advance (on September 27) has backfired a little as injuries and an untoward incident has forced them to make some last minute changes. (Photo: AP)