After the crushing defeat in the fourth Ashes test it has been suggested that changes to the batting personnel is required if England are to win the sacred urn.

At present the England middle order are finding life hard in the middle. Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, who replaced the injured Kevin Pietersen in the third Test at Edgbaston, contributed a total of 16 runs in Leeds. Which is doing the team no favours in their quest to repeat the heroics of 2005.

Although many are reacting to the defeat a bit drastically it is clear to all that the batting display was not been good enough for an English side playing at home in the Ashes. Captain Strauss was quick to play down talk that the Ashes were beyond the reach of his team. Strauss said 'Has everyone remembered that it's actually 1-1 rather than 0-4, Andrew Strauss took on the role of Corporal Jones: "Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring!" Strauss using his Gray Nicolls bat and Gray Nicolls pads and gloves is the only batter to score a ton this series. The Captain leading the way is confident that his side can come back and 'make the country proud.'

Pro Direct Cricket has named five players that have to be considered in the next test to bolster the failing middle order.

1. Rob Key - Using Gray Nicolls Cricket Equipment
He feels like a Grand Old Man of English cricket. He has been around a long time, making his county debut for Kent in 1998, his international debut in 2002. Yet Rob Key is only 30 years of age and could still be seen in England colours again.



2. Mark Ramprakash – Using Gray Nicolls Cricket Equipment
Ramprakash, 39, made the last of his 52 Test appearances in 2002, but has been in prolific form for his county. Ramprakash showed he was still going strong with 134 not out against Derbyshire on Sunday 9th August.

It was his 108th first-class century of his career, moving him level with Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas in 16th place on the all-time list.

Ramprakash's ton followed a season's best 274 against Leicestershire last week at The Oval, taking his overall first-class runs tally to 1209 for the season.



3. John Trott – Using Gunn and Moore Cricket Equipment
The 28-year-old South African-born batsman struggled in his only previous international experience, scoring just 11 runs in two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies at the Oval two years ago, but impressed during the Academy's tour of New Zealand last winter.

It was his 108th first-class century of his career, moving him level with Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas in 16th place on the all-time list.

Ramprakash's ton followed a season's best 274 against Leicestershire last week at The Oval, taking his overall first-class runs tally to 1209 for the season.



4. Owais Shah- Using Kookaburra Cricket Equipment
He is a fixture in the England squad but has still played only two Tests. After the embarrassment of Sabina Park has his time finally come. The flamboyant top order batter has always impressed in the One Day arena but now is it his time to step up to the Ultimate Test arena.



5. Andrew Flintoff – Using Puma Cricket Equipment
The big all rounder is desperate to regain his fitness so he can have a final Test to remember. Once asked if he wrote his own scripts, surely even he could not come up with this one. Could he come back in his final Test to clinch the Ashes for his beloved country and in doing so write his name in cricketing legacy.




So there is the short list that everyone is talking about. Will one of these players make a name for themselves as the Ashes hero. Surely Flintoff will make a final swan song. All five stars deserve a chance but none more so the the big hitting all rounder that is certain to finish as one of the best all rounders in world cricket.