Series win doesn't mask problems: Bayliss

Trevor Bayliss was honest enough to admit this impressive 3-1 series victory against South Africa cannot paper over the cracks ahead of an Ashes tour later this year that promises to define his tenure as England coach.

It is always better to be looking for answers from a position of strength and England will take much confidence from coming back from the low of their 340-run hammering at Trent Bridge last month to overcome the world's No.2 team with comprehensive back-to-back wins at The Oval and Old Trafford.

Quick Single: Mighty Moeen spins England to victory

Indeed, Joe Root, after acquitting himself brilliantly in his first series as captain, will take plenty of confidence from the fact his team now sit third in the world Test rankings ahead of Australia.

That will fire this group of players with belief ahead of their departure for Perth in late October.

Yet Bayliss, an Australian who knows the size of the task ahead, is in no mood to start crowing.

Yes, the brilliance of Moeen Ali, whose off-spin took 25 wickets in this series, is a real positive for Bayliss and England. Root, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have also had fine series and will fancy their chances of turning over Australia in their own backyard later this year.

However, Bayliss knows the well-documented flaws in this England team – namely the top-order and the No.5 position – need to be addressed quickly.

"It's always a good thing that you're winning but we're not papering over the cracks," he said. "We know there are some spots that haven't been cemented down. We're still looking for those guys to prove their worth at this level. Hopefully not before too long we do see some big scores from some of those guys."

Asked whether he was any closer to solving the top-order problem with just three Tests against the West Indies between now and the start of the first Ashes Test at Brisbane in November, Bayliss replied: "To be honest, no."

Keaton Jennings, who averaged 15.87 in this series against South Africa, must surely now be put out to pasture. Haseeb Hameed, who scored his first half-century of the County Championship season for Lancashire on Monday, and Mark Stoneman, the Surrey opener, will be considered for next week's first Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston.

Quick Single: Aussies v Bangladesh: Six reasons to get excited

Yet Australian fans will be encouraged, and England's followers horrified, by Bayliss' assertion that Jennings could still be part of England's Ashes squad.

"Obviously Keaton would be disappointed with the way he went," Bayliss said with typical understatement.

"But I think he batted on some very tough wickets for opening batters this series against a top-quality pace-bowling attack. So, it was tough for him at different times. Yes, he's got some things to work on – he knows that and he's working hard in the nets.

"If he works hard enough and backs his ability there's no reason he can't make a go of it. Whether he plays or not, he is still an option to take to Australia. He's still in the running. If he doesn't play then he has the chance to play more matches before Australia."

There is no doubt England's selectors, of which Bayliss is one, will be picking their squad on Friday for the first West Indies Test with the Ashes in mind.

Jennings cannot be part of it if England are to have any realistic hope of Ashes success. Dawid Malan, a failure in the two Tests he has played at No.5, is also now likely to get canned, with Alex Hales, an opener during the 2015 Ashes, scoring a timely double hundred for Nottinghamshire on Monday from the middle order.

"I'm sure the Ashes be at the back of their minds, but once the team is selected for the West Indies we'll be focused on winning," said Bayliss. "We wouldn't want to go into the Ashes having lost a series, we want to go into that having won a couple of series. That will give the boys confidence. But certainly, that will be in the back of their minds, definitely."

Quick Single: AbdV must return to Tests: Pollock

In reality, the Ashes will now be firmly at the front of every selector's mind because this is the one tour where they cannot afford to made the wrong calls.

Beating South Africa has put England in a good place. But the cracks Bayliss has identified need to be filled and not papered over, otherwise they risk Australia turning them into open, festering wounds during the Ashes.

Ashes tickets are on sale now

Click the ‘Buy tickets’ link next to the match you wish to attend or visit cricket.com.au/tickets for more information

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Men's Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Join the ACF

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI WACA Ground, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21