The Ashes 2015: Moving Joe Root is not the answer to England’s problems against Australia

It is quite a conundrum: how to give your best batsmen the chance to shape the game, while also giving them the role in which they are most effective. Steve Smith’s elevation to No3 by Australia has paid off spectacularly but there is still too little proof that Root’s would produce similar dividends.

The Root question is just one of the difficult ones the selectors must consider, at a time in which they are particularly vulnerable. Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket, will review selection at the end of the summer and the position of James Whitaker, the national selector, is in severe doubt.

Strauss will attend selection meetings throughout the summer, which leaves Whitaker and fellow selectors Angus Fraser and Mick Newell to make tricky calls while knowing that their jobs are on the line. Here are some of the problems they must try to solve.

The Yorkshire opener scored a century in only his second Test, against New Zealand in June, but has not passed 38 in any of his other seven innings. However, if he can only work his way through the new ball, Lyth has the attacking game to give England the brisk start they need. It would seem harsh if, after only four Tests, the selectors were to send him back to county cricket.

Gary Ballance

In home Tests last summer, Ballance averaged 70.4. This summer, it is 16.8. Those statistics alone are cause for alarm. In his defence, Ballance has received several good deliveries and, having never batted regularly at No3 for Yorkshire, he has scant knowledge of how to cope when struggling in that position. Ballance has batted in the lower-middle order for Yorkshire and if he is to be retained, perhaps it should be at No5 or No6. For now, he looks vulnerable.

Ian Bell

Is his decline terminal? There is mounting evidence to suggest this is true. He is showing little authority at the crease and his slip catching, too, is unreliable. If Bell is to be given another opportunity, it should be at No3. In the past, Bell has thrived when he has been made to feel important. Maybe the chance to walk out at No3 — in front of his home crowd at Edgbaston — might bring back the Bell of 2013.

Adil Rashid’s decision to withdraw from the squad before Lord’s puzzled some in the England camp. With Moeen Ali struggling with a side injury, Rashid had a strong chance of making his Test debut. He then declared himself unfit due to a damaged finger, only to play for Yorkshire against Worcestershire this week. Moeen made it through all four days at Lord’s but his fitness must be monitored.

At his best, Wood is a highly promising pace bowler but there are doubts about his physical condition. Injuries have restricted the Durham player to just 28 first-class matches in more than four years. Wood revealed before the series that he might be rested for at least one of the five matches, and Steve Finn will be eyeing his first Test in more than two years at Edgbaston.