The spinners have varied backstories. The batters approach the game differently. And when it comes to fast bowlers, there’s very little to pick
Andrew McGlashan15-Jun-2023The latest series has the makings of the best Ashes since 2005 as a rejuvenated England take on the newly crowned World Test Champions. England have named their XI while only one question remains in Australia – so how do the two sides match up? You can have your say too.Top orderEngland Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope
Australia David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus LabuschagneZak Crawley made his first fifty in nine innings against Ireland•PA Photos/Getty ImagesThere’s a significant difference in experience among the top threes: 80 caps in England’s trio compared to 203 for the Australians. Both come with one significant question mark as all eyes remain on David Warner to see whether he can chart the Test farewell he has planned out, while on the England side Zak Crawley’s position remains a hot topic, although he has received strong backing from Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.Related
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Ben Duckett is enjoying an impressive second coming as a Test batter while the latter stages of Usman Khawaja’s career is a wonderful story.At No. 3 you have a batter forging a path towards being a great – this series sees Marnus Labuschagne return to where his Test career took off in 2019. Ollie Pope, meanwhile, has flourished in this England side and comes in on the back of a double-hundred although his overall average remains 35.27.Middle orderEngland Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes
Australia Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron GreenSteven Smith and Travis Head both scored WTC final hundreds•Associated PressThere are some fascinating match-ups here: two great No. 4s, two players at No. 5 who are eager to take the game on, and then two key allrounders. Joe Root has reverse-lapped pace bowlers for six during the Bazball era, but you are unlikely to see Steven Smith changing his game. In fact, signs suggest he’s back the zone he showed in 2019.Harry Brook has had a scintillating start to his Test career with an average of 81.80 and strike-rate of 99.03. Some of his strokeplay against New Zealand’s quicks was remarkable. Travis Head, meanwhile, was blazing away before Bazball was a thing: he started and ended Australia’s World Test Championship run with barnstorming centuries and Stokes recently singled him out for his style.Then there’s Stokes himself. What can we expect from the England captain? His value to the team is far more than just runs and wickets but he still needs those. In Cameron Green, Australia now have the all-round option that was long absent. He has already tasted Ashes success and in the last six months has struck a maiden hundred and taken a first five-wicket haul.WicketkeeperEngland Jonny Bairstow
Australia Alex CareyJonny Bairstow returned behind the stumps against Ireland•Getty ImagesJonny Bairstow at No. 7 gives England a deep batting order, akin to what Adam Gilchrist provided Australia. And last summer, Bairstow was playing a manner that would’ve made Gilchrist proud, scoring 681 runs at 75.66 and a strike-rate of 96.59 until his broken leg kept him out for nine months. Alex Carey enters the Ashes following a very handy contribution in the WTC final, and despite the occasional question mark over his keeping, he was impressive on difficult Indian pitches and is largely secure.Fast bowlersEngland Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson
Australia Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, Josh HazlewoodMitchell Starc in conversation with Daniel Vettori•Getty ImagesOne combination that Australia could field would see them be the first team to select four bowlers with 200-plus Test wickets. However, Australia’s final combination remains to be seen and it’s very hard to see them leaving out Scott Boland, who, at the rate he is going, may still have time for 200 Test scalps too.England, though, will field a pairing that has taken 1267 Test wickets after both James Anderson and Stuart Broad were confirmed in the XI. They have, for now, held back the pace of Mark Wood though. Could that come back to haunt them?SpinnerEngland Moeen Ali
Australia Nathan LyonNathan Lyon is closing in on 500 Test wickets•Getty ImagesThis is not the match-up that was expected. Moeen Ali has answered Stokes’ SOS to fill the hole left by the injury to Jack Leach. Australia have never been Moeen’s favourite opponent, although he played a useful role in 2015, but he comes in with a nothing-to-lose attitude.He’s up against one of the greatest. Nathan Lyon is approaching 500 Test wickets and was a pivotal figure in Australia’s WTC success. England, no doubt, will go after him but Lyon is prepared. “I have the record of most Test sixes in history so a couple won’t matter to me,” he told ESPNcricinfo before the tour. Without doubt Lyon is the better spinner; Moeen might provide more runs.The reservesEngland Mark Wood, Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts, Chris Woakes, Dan Lawrence
Australia Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Josh InglisMark Wood is expected to come into contention for England•PA Images via Getty ImagesBench strength will be vital with five Tests in six weeks, particularly for fast bowlers. Beyond whichever quick misses out for Australia at Edgbaston, they also currently have Michael Neser in the squad. England, of course, have the home advantage of calling up anyone they want. Josh Tongue made a solid impression on debut against Ireland. Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw wait in the wings if Australia need a fresh batter.