top-order

LONDON: England’s selectors name their squad on Wednesday for the Ashes series with the team in a surprising state of flux despite recent home series wins over South Africa and West Indies. England experienced a mixture of crushing victories and heavy losses this summer, eventually winning out because they bat so deep and, in Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, have two of their best-ever all-rounders. But the top order seldom convinced with only opener Alastair Cook and captain Joe Root certain to play in the first test against…