Analyzing England's Trio of Replacements for Jonathan Trott

England's start to the Ashes series was dipped into further chaos earlier this week when key batsman Jonathan Trott left the tour due to a long-standing stress illness. Whilst that is far from ideal for England's preparations for the second Test in Adelaide, it does open a window for one of the supporting cast to come in and help reverse England's fortunes.

Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Ben Stokes are players who have varying degrees of experience at international level, but they all offer something different to Andy Flower and Alastair Cook ahead of the Test.

Of course, the fact that all three of these are middle-order batsmen means that, naturally, the likes of Ian Bell and Joe Root will slide up the order to accommodate for Trott's absence. However, they offer excitement and raw potential aplenty, which could seriously spice up England's tour when it is desperately needed.

Jonathan Bairstow

Of the trio of batsmen in contention for the slot, Bairstow is the one who has the most experience at international level—by some considerable distance. Stokes and Ballance are yet to play in a Test match of any kind, let alone an Ashes Test in Australia.

Bairstow has Ashes experience on his side—although he was hardly in prime form during the series, as he struggled against the swing bowling of Peter Siddle.

He would though, be the safe option for Andy Flower to revert to. Someone with experience may well be the preferred option in a hostile environment, and Bairstow certainly has a point to prove.

Ben Stokes

Stokes has one trick card up his sleeve that both Bairstow and Ballance do not—the ability to bowl, and bowl well.

The Durham man impressed during the limited-overs series against the Australians at the end of the summer, and he has a decent enough average of 36.66 in his one day international career so far.

There is also the fact that he is a destructive lower order batsman and can change a match in no time whatsoever. Many people are already drawing comparisons to Stokes and Andrew Flintoff—an all-rounder with pace and bounce that can worry batsmen.

He averages 35.64 at first class level with Durham and would give England the crucial fifth bowler they may require during those long, energy-sapping days in the Australian heat.

Gary Ballance

Ballance has made the touring squad on merit after a stunning 2013 with Yorkshire. A first class average of 53.33 in his relatively young career is a remarkable statistic, and a figure that will certainly weight on the mind of Flower and Cook ahead of the Adelaide Test.

He is a sprightly fielder and has staked his claim with a half-century in England's recent tour match against a Chairmans XI in Alice Springs.

For my money, Ballance is the one who should get the nod to replace Trott. The fact Stokes can bowl should not come into consideration—England have coped perfectly well with four bowlers of late, and can continue to do so. The bowling has not been a major issue so far, but the batting has.

England need batsmen in form, and Ballance certainly ticks that box.