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Sir Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton pick Ashes outsiders

Sir Ian Botham on Jack Leach: "His figures outdo everyone else in the spin department, yet no one seems to mention him. I find that quite bizarre. Why does he never seem to be in the reckoning?"

TAUNTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Jack Leach of Somerset bowls during Day Three of the Specsavers County Championship Division One match between Somerset an
Image: Sir Ian Botham says Somerset spinner Jack Leach (pictured) should be in Ashes contention

England will name their Ashes squad on Wednesday - so will any surprise names get a mention at the selection meeting?

We asked Sky Sports Cricket experts Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and Sir Ian Botham to name someone who might be a long shot for selection but who deserves to be in the mix.

Read their choices below and then let us know who you think should be on the radar on Twitter @SkyCricket...

NASSER HUSSAIN - Nick Gubbins (Middlesex)

"I don't think the selectors will go anywhere near him as he hasn't got that many runs this season and hasn't played since early August because of a hamstring injury - but he looks organised.

CANTERBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 23: Nick Gubbins of England Lions hits a boundary during day 3 of the match between England Lions and South Africa A at The Spit
Image: Nick Gubbins could impress on bouncy Australian pitches, says Nasser Hussain

"I have only seen him a handful of times, including when he scored 125 and 93 last year when Middlesex beat Yorkshire to win the County Championship, but I like his back-foot play and the way he deals with the quicker bowlers, playing the ball above his waist.

"There have been one or two whispers that he is perhaps not as good against spin but what spin will he see in Australia, apart from Nathan Lyon? He's not going to encounter any raging turners. It was my gut feeling that he would do well on Australian pitches.

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"I think it's probably a bit early for Nick Browne and Dan Lawrence at Essex, too, despite them scoring regular runs for the Championship winners and being highly rated by the coaches down in Chelmsford. That said, Michael Vaughan smashed it everywhere on his first Ashes tour."

CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Nick Browne of Essex plays a shot during the Tour Match between Essex and West Indies at Cloudfm County Ground on August 2
Image: Opener Nick Browne helped Essex win the County Championship this season

MICHAEL ATHERTON - Tom Helm (Middlesex), George Garton (Sussex)

"I've gone for two young fast bowlers and they are my outsiders because I don't actually think they should go on The Ashes tour!

"They should certainly be discussed, though, and in contention over the next year or two, which makes them likely picks for the Lions tour in Australia before Christmas and West Indies after it.

"I like the pace of Garton, the Sussex left-armer, while I thought Helm was eye-catching in a 50-over game we did on Sky at the start of the year and I have been following him closely ever since. He is tall, gets the ball to move away from the batsmen and I think he will get stronger and a bit quicker.

CANTERBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 22: Tom Helm of England Lions bowls during day 2 of the match between England Lions and South Africa A at The Spitfire Ground on
Image: Mike Atherton says Middlesex paceman Tom Helm is one to watch

"Like I said, I don't think they are ready yet but with some accelerated development with Lions fixtures and more overs under their belt, they will not be far away."

SIR IAN BOTHAM - Jack Leach (Somerset)

"I look at records. The whole point of having a two-division County Championship is to see what players are doing and who is performing. Leach's figures outdo everyone else in the spin department, yet no one seems to mention him. I find that quite bizarre."

"He has taken 42 Division One wickets this season for Somerset, having taken 65 last year, a record only beaten by Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel. He also picked up another five-wicket haul the other week against a Lancashire side that has been doing well.

Jack Leach of Somerset appeals during Day Two of the Specsavers County Championship Division One match
Image: Leach has taken over 100 first-class wickets since the start of 2016

"He is in form - so what's he done wrong? Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper at Surrey, is another one to mention - he has a chance of being the backup keeper to Jonny Bairstow - but the one for me is Leach. Why does he never seem to be in the reckoning?"

Head to skysports.com and Sky Sports News from 10am on Wednesday for news of England's Ashes squad. Then head to Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404) from 12pm on the same day for live coverage of England's third ODI with Windies, at The Oval.

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