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Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow claims England face a selection dilemma ahead of this week's Ashes opener with a full-strength squad to choose from.
A full-strength England face a selection dilemma ahead of this week's first Ashes Test in Brisbane, Jonny Bairstow says.
After an injury-hit start to their tour, wicketkeeper Bairstow claimed England had a clean bill of health before their Ashes defence starting at the Gabba on Thursday.
Bairstow (finger) was among the players cleared by England after they arrived in Brisbane on Sunday for the first Test.
"During a long tour like this there are going to be periods that where people get injured, that is part and parcel of a long tour," he said.
"It is fantastic the guys will be back for selection for that first Test.
"That gives Joe (Root) and (coach) Trev (Bayliss) a selection dilemma because the guys who have played have done really well."
Alarm bells were ringing from the outset for England after vice-captain Ben Stokes was left behind pending a police investigation into a Bristol brawl that left a man hospitalised with facial injuries in September.
England speedster Steve Finn (knee) was sent home and an injury cloud quickly hovered over Moeen Ali (side strain) and quick Jake Ball (ankle).
Pace spearhead James Anderson has also overcome illness.
But Bairstow, who suffered finger bruising in the recent drawn tour match with a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville, believed the full squad was now available ahead of the five-Test series.
England coach Bayliss' biggest conundrum looms as the third seamer to back up new ball strike weapons Anderson and Stuart Broad.
A fully-recovered Ball looks most likely after medium-pacer Craig Overton was thrashed for 0-65 off 15 overs by the no-name Cricket Australia XI batting line-up in Townsville.
Grade cricketers Jason Sangha (133) and Matt Short (134no) combined for a four-and-a-half hour, 263-run stand to take the CA XI towards a draw in a frustrating finish to England's Ashes countdown.
Bayliss has still reportedly called on the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia to provide more competitive tour matches in the lead-up to an Ashes series.
But Bairstow believed England had received an ideal build-up despite completing it with back-to-back matches against the inexperienced CA XI.
"I thought the opposition played very well," he said.
"The guys who scored runs yesterday, full credit to them - it's a first-class fixture.
"To play on pitches that we haven't before is important for us, it will only stand us in good stead going forward to the Gabba, Perth and Adelaide."
