Sky Sports readers pick their England XI to face Australia in the first Ashes Test

Image: Sky Sports readers have picked their England XI to face Australia at the Gabba

We asked you to pick your ideal England starting XI for their Ashes opener in Brisbane - and here are the results...

Where will Joe Root bat? Has Dawid Malan done enough to keep the No 5 berth? Who should take the final seam spot - Jake Ball or Craig Overton? Should spinner Mason Crane play alongside Moeen Ali?

Here's YOUR England XI to take on the Aussies at the Gabba...

Openers

Image: Mark Stoneman (R) joins Alastair Cook (L) at the top of the order

It's no surprise to see Alastair Cook in the no. 1 spot, despite his lack of runs in the warm-up matches. England's all-time leading Test runscorer's experience will be crucial when the action gets underway, especially alongside Ashes newcomer Mark Stoneman. Again, it's no surprise to see the Surrey star picked to open the batting, especially after his form in the warm-up matches. Stoneman scored 308 runs in three matches and hit four consecutive fifties, including 111 last week against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville.

Middle order

Image: Joe Root has been picked to bat at four

James Vince gets the nod at no. 3 after his return to the England squad. Skipper Joe Root is handed his favoured position at four, while Dawid Malan's form sees him into the line-up ahead of Gary Ballance at no. 5. All three have been in the runs in the warm-up matches with Malan notching his first century in England colours in Townsville last week.

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Wicketkeeper

Image: Jonny Bairstow fills the no. 6 slot

There was absolutely no debate as to who your wicket-keeper would be. Jonny Baistow is the overwhelming choice to take the gloves for England ahead of Ben Foakes. With Ben Stokes still absent, one of the questions that needed to be answered by England was who fills the no. 6 position? And you've chosen to move Bairstow up one position from seven.

Spinner

Image: Moeen Ali has been picked as England's sole spinner by Sky Sports readers

Again, there's no debate as to the spinner. Moeen Ali is the man for the Sky Sports readers and he has been chosen to bat at seven. Will Mason Crane join him in this line-up?

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Bowlers

Image: Craig Overton has made the cut ahead of Jake Ball

Unsurprisingly, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes all feature. Woakes has been particularly impressive in the warm-up matches in taking 12 wickets and he fills the no. 8 spot in the batting line-up.

There's still one spot up for grabs with seamers Jake Ball, Craig Overton, Tom Curran and leg spinner Mason Crane all in contention. And in what was a close call you've plumped for Somerset quick Overton with 4,518 votes to complete the attack ahead of the fit-again Ball (3,188 votes).

Sky Sports readers' England XI to start first Ashes Test: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (c), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

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