England v Australia Analysis

OPENERS

England's opening pair of Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth boast 28 Test centuries between them, with the skipper responsible for 27 of those.

He looks in watertight form at present and will be desperate for a big series, though how Lyth will react to the Ashes stage after just two caps is an open question.

David Warner has 12 Test tons of his own and an attacking approach diametrically opposed to Cook's. His likely partner, Chris Rogers, knows English pitches well from county cricket but is close to retirement.

Verdict: Even

MIDDLE ORDER

Where better to start than the world's number one ranked batsman Steven Smith? The 26-year-old has been a relentless run-scorer for the past 18 months, hoovering up scoring records, but his record in England pales by comparison.

In home conditions England will hope their own rising star Joe Root can match, or even beat, Smith's contribution.

Gary Ballance and Ian Bell have concerns over their recent form, but the former raced to 1,000 Test runs and latter was man of the series during the 2013 Ashes.

In the away dressing room 35-year-old Adam Voges is enjoying belated recognition, while captain Michael Clarke is a world-class performer attempting to win a series in England at the final attempt.

Verdict: Even

ALL-ROUNDERS

With Moeen Ali nominated as a specialist spinner and deployed at number eight against New Zealand, Ben Stokes is England's primary all-rounder.

A cricketer with X-factor and real match-winning ability, he is a hard-hitting batsman and an attacking bowler who can leak runs in pursuit of breakthroughs.

Australia will choose between the old hand Shane Watson or Mitch Marsh. The former looks to be on the downward curve, while his heir apparent is short on experience.

Verdict: Advantage England

WICKETKEEPERS

Brad Haddin, a grizzled veteran making a final stand against his favourite opponents, versus Jos Buttler, a thoroughly contemporary cricketer with the world at his feet.

Haddin is the superior gloveman, offers greater presence in the field and always ups his game against the Poms, while Buttler's batting feels likely to take the world by storm at any moment.

Verdict: Even

SPINNERS

Two years ago Nathan Lyon was jettisoned for the first Test in favour of the young and untested Ashton Agar. Now he is undisputed first choice and his country's most prolific off-spinner. He will be licking his lips at England's stash of left-handers.

Moeen made his name with the bat and is a frontline spinner by necessity, with early success against India tempered by recent struggles. The uncapped Adil Rashid may yet play a part.

Verdict: Advantage Australia

SEAMERS

There is not a captain in world cricket who would not love to have Australia's battery of pace men. Mitchell Starc is a world number one in the making, fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson tortured the tourists in the whitewash Down Under and on his day Ryan Harris is as good as both. Add Josh Hazlewood to the mix and the options are dizzying. In this Australia side, it is considered something of a faux pas not to crank the speed gun beyond 90mph.

Leading the English charge is James Anderson, whose 403 scalps make him the eighth most prolific seamer in Test history. He will be joined by Stuart Broad, who cannot always find his match-winning best, and the exciting but largely untested Mark Wood.

Verdict: Advantage Australia