No squad surprises as England resist change for Headingley
The fitness of a pair of key players will be monitored in the lead-up to the third Ashes Test, with top-order batter Ollie Pope set to undergo scans on his troublesome shoulder and experienced spinner Moeen Ali still in some doubt with his finger problem.
Pope hurt his right shoulder during England's 43-run loss to Australia in the second Test at Lord's and selectors will be hoping the 25-year-old is fit to take on the tourists in the crucial third Test that commences at Headingley on Thursday.
If Pope is ruled out then it is likely Dan Lawrence will earn a place in England's XI, with the right-hander the only spare batter in the squad that selectors named on Sunday.
Lawrence hasn't played a Test since he featured against the West Indies at St Georges in March last year, but the 25-year-old appears the only option to replace Pope with back-up keeper Ben Foakes still on the outer after he was once again overlooked.
It would mean Jonny Bairstow remains as keeper for the third Test despite the veteran managing just 26 runs and giving up a total of 27 byes at Lord's over Australia's two innings.
England are hoping to regain veteran all-rounder Moeen from his finger concern, while Chris Woakes and Mark Wood are both likely to be considered as the only two seamers in the squad yet to feature during the opening two Tests of the series.
Rehan Ahmed was added to England's squad for the Lord's Test as cover for Moeen, but the teenager drops out of the reckoning for the Headingley Test in what appears a good sign for Moeen's fitness.
Australia have won the opening two matches of the five-Test series and England need to triumph in the remaining three contests to regain the urn and become just the second team to come from 2-0 down to claim an Ashes series victory.
Ricky Ponting concerned by England's Ashes approach | The ICC Review
Australia great Ricky Ponting thinks there is plenty of question marks surrounding England ahead of the second Ashes Test at Lord's
England squad for third Test: Ben Stokes (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
