The Ashes

Image source, Getty Images

England's Jamie Smith has the potential to be a "very good" Test wicketkeeper but has some "fundamental issues" and a "poor technique", says Matt Prior.

Smith, 25, came under pressure during England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, with a costly drop of Travis Head in the second Test in Brisbane, while he played some poor shots with the bat throughout the series.

Prior, who played 79 Tests between 2007 and 2014, was in Australia with TNT Sports for part of the series and has questioned Smith's mentality and his intensity in the field throughout the series.

"He is obviously a supremely talented cricketer and that is one of the most frustrating things with this group of players," said Prior.

"I didn't get the impression at any point in the series that Smith had any front or wanted to get in the battle.

"The mental challenge of being a wicketkeeper is huge but if you drop a chance you tend to internalise. Often wicketkeepers get better with age because you have a process of getting through it and I don't believe Jamie Smith has that yet.

"We're talking about mentality, but technically he is poor. There are fundamental basic issues with how he keeps - his stance when the bowler is running in and he gets wrong-footed a lot. There are simple fixes and he is talented enough to fix it.

"He has the makings of a very good Test wicketkeeper-batter but there are some fundamental issues that could be fixed quite easily with work, effort and training.

"The challenge he has if he's not even keeping for his county Surrey, where does he do the work? If you're not keeping for your county, how do you keep for England? How are you getting selected?"

Image source, Getty Images

England's all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson says seamer Brydon Carse reminds him of his legendary team-mate Stuart Broad.

Carse was the only England bowler to play in all five Ashes Test against Australia and was asked to take on the unusual role of opening the bowling.

At times was line and length was loose, and despite finishing as England's leading wicket-taker, he averaged 30.31 and had an economy rate of 4.81.

Broad is England's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, taking 604 wickets, including 153 against Australia.

"I thought he gave a decent account of himself and his pitchmap got a little bit better throughout the series," Anderson said on BBC's Tailenders podcast.

"He reminds me a little bit of Stuart Broad - he's got that spell in him. He bowls wicket-taking balls and he's got good pace and he does run in all day.

"He has not bowled with the new ball much and he was asked to do that. You can see that.

"He's got the attributes to be a Test opening bowler but he just needs time to learn his game.

"He's not that young but he just needs to keep learning and honing his skills so he's more consistent."

Image source, Getty Images

Jacob Bethell's character and "front" has similarities to England great Kevin Pietersen, according to former wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Bethell, 22, played in the final two Tests of the Ashes and made a maiden first-class century with a stunning 154 in the second innings of the final game in Sydney.

England were 4-1 and trailed by 179 runs when Bethell walked to the crease and Prior was impressed by his approach.

"He's got a lot of front. He walks out and does it in his way, a little bit like when Kevin Pietersen walked around Perth like he owned the place," Prior said on BBC's Tailenders podcast.

"You've got to have that as a top-level sportsperson, especially in Australia.

"There is a fine line between self-belief and arrogance and taking it too far and he's still a young lad but he sort of walked out like 'I've got this' and that for me like he's got a chance."

England's all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson was also impressed by Bethell, and believes he has done enough to warrant a run of games at three.

"I was excited about him before this Ashes series," said Anderson.

"His technique might not be there to bat number three, but he showed in that last Test that he might have the technique to have a decent run at three. Albeit on a flat wicket, but I thought he played beautifully.

"I've seen him first hand and have seen the character that he's got and he's got exactly what you need to make it in Test cricket. He's got resilience, he's got self-belief and he's calm.

"England were behind the game in the second innings but he showed the character that he's got. He just batted properly and like an old-school Test number three, which I thought was great."

Image source, Getty Images

Selected players from Australia's Ashes squad - including stand-in captain Steve Smith - will play in the Big Bash from this weekend, but batter Travis Head will play no part.

Smith, wicketkeeper Alex Carey and batters Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are among the players that will return this weekend and be available for their sides final three group games and the play-offs.

Bowlers Michael Neser and Mitchell Starc will be available for Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers from the 14 and 16 January respectively meaning they can play in two group matches.

Head has been rested before February's T20 World Cup, while pace bowler Scott Boland will also play no part.

All-rounder Cameron Green will also not feature as he is not contracted to any side.

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all miss out as they continue to recover from injuries.

From Saturday, 10 January

Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne

Melbourne Renegades: Brendan Doggett

From Sunday, 11 January

Sydney Sixers: Steve Smith, Todd Murphy

Hobart Hurricanes: Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

Adelaide Strikers: Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers)

Perth Scorchers: Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers)

From Wednesday, 14 January

Brisbane Heat: Michael Neser

From Friday, 16 January:

Sydney Sixers: Mitchell Starc

Not available

Nathan Lyon (hamstring injury), Scott Boland and Travis Head (both managed), Cameron Green (uncontracted)

Image source, Getty Images

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden says England batter Jacob Bethell has the skills for Test cricket after his 154 in the Sydney Test.

"Joe Root and Steve Smith, they epitomize modern Test cricket. They have the improvisation, they do have gears, but they've got the one skill that Bethell was able to show as well, and that is that they have a very simple technique," Hayden told BBC Stumped.

"They cut, they pull, they play down the ground. They are able to absorb pressure and build pressure on opposition because they occupy the crease for a large period of time, because their temperament allows them to do it.

"I would imagine in the wash up to this series Harry Brook would go, gosh, I was several times in a position to be able to score Test match hundreds on reasonably good batting conditions but I failed to do so because I wasn't able to keep my wicket in hand.

"The old adage, of being able to just occupy the crease and find a way through certain periods of time. Young Bethell showed us that beautifully in Sydney."

Hayden, who played 103 Tests for Australia, also said he can't see Travis Head wanting to move from opening the batting in Test cricket.

"He's plugged a giant hole since David Warner as a more attacking opening batter. Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, you've got a more of a defensive type batting unit.

"It's broken in and around Alex Carey, who had a fantastic series. But Travis is that offensive player.

"When Travis came out to open in Perth in that magnificent run chase, the England change room just about broke their neck looking over at who was going to replace Usman Khawaja. That to me says it all.

"He's an impact player. He's a player that people not only want to go watch but as an opposition player, they don't want a bowl to.

"Travis Head, is absolutely on fire, and I can't see him wanting to move. Can you?"