We are not even halfway through the last Test against Windies but we have to start thinking about The Ashes despite there being the small matter of the World Cup in between. It seems inevitable that David Warner and Steven Smith will play in The Ashes after serving their sentence for SandpaperGate. This would probably mean that Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne will not play. This is hardly a dilemma.

England, on the other hand, is in a huge spot of bother. The first three slots are still up for grabs. Surely Mark Wood will have to be seriously considered. I have to agree with the assessment of Mark Wood by Vithushan Ehantharajah. I cannot envisage the possibility of Anderson or Broad being dropped in England unless one of them gets injured. This brings up two other issues. The first is the role of Sam Curran in the side. The second is Jofra Archer. If he is chosen then it would most probably have to be on the back of an exceptionally good World Cup and the Test against Ireland. Will he play for England Lions against Australia? I fear that there will be a repeat of the Adil Rashid white ball debate if Jofra Archer does not play enough red ball cricket.

I do not want to tempt fate but the only certainty about the English team for The Ashes is that Joe Root will captain the side and bat at four. Everything else seems smoggy.