England arrive in Australia hoping to forget the embarrassment of the 2013-14 Ashes campaign. They left England after a summer of series victories over both South Africa and the West Indies, and this is the most likely side that will take the field in Brisbane.
1. Alastair Cook
Cook will be hoping to replicate the form showed on the 2010-11 tour of Australia. Since the last tour Down Under he has given up the captaincy, and perhaps this freedom will allow England’s all-time leading Test run scorer to lay a platform for England’s innings.
2. Mark Stoneman
Stoneman will be the first of a number of new faces to Australian fans. The 30-year-old opener has spent one season playing for Surrey after moving from his boyhood county of Durham. He has shown glimpses of form in an England shirt, most notably in the Ashes warm-up matches.
3. James Vince
Vince returns to the England side after he was dropped in 2016 following an unspectacular start to his Test career. The Hampshire captain will want to establish the number three position as his own, which no-one else since Jonathan Trott has been able to do. In England Vince is considered the weakest link in the side, with his extravagant stroke play but an inability to form long Test innings.
4. Joe Root (c)
The new captain and lynchpin of the batting line-up, Root’s form will be crucial to any potential England success. His impressive form since, however, is unlikely to cover up the fact that he failed to impress in the last away Ashes series. He was dropped from the final Test and will want to impose himself on the upcoming series.
(Nigel French/PA Wire)
5. Dawid Malan
The Middlesex batsman was drafted into the England side against South Africa earlier this year. He has made a promising start with two 50s and also runs so far on the tour. He first had national success when playing for the T20 side against South Africa in 2017, scoring 78 on debut.
6. Jonny Bairstow (wk)
Bairstow has quickly become one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world. Initially recalled as a batsman, he took the gloves from Jos Buttler and his form with both bat and gloves has improved dramatically. He will likely bat at six in the absence of Ben Stokes, and along with the other all-rounders he will need to step up.
7. Moeen Ali
Similar to Bairstow, all-rounder Moeen has become an important member of the England team. Moeen joined Sir Ian Botham in taking 25 wickets and scoring more than 250 runs in the same series, against South Africa. Despite this, his form away from home with the ball has been poor in comparison and will need to improve if England are to challenge Australia.
8. Chris Woakes
Since debuting against Australia in 2013 Woakes has become a fine first change bowler. He struggled in the English summer after returning from an injury but will be pushing to take the new ball alongside Anderson or Broad. He will also likely contribute with important lower-order runs.
9. Stuart Broad
Pantomime villain Broad will need to hope to remember his form of the 2015 Ashes. His most memorable performance at Trent Bridge when he has impressive first innings figures of 8-15.
10. Jake Ball
Another new face in Ball will seemingly get the nod ahead of potential debutant Craig Overton. The former has struggled with injury on the tour so far but may return at the Gabba. He has a similar bowling style to his Nottinghamshire colleague Broad.
11. James Anderson
Anderson has recently become England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker. In the twilight of his career, the Lancashire quick will want his impressive form from the home season will continue. In the 2010-11 series, he topped the bowling charts taking 24 wickets.
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