John Etheridge, Ben Horne’s Ashes guide to Australia v England

SUNSPORT’S John Etheridge and Aussie cricket writer Ben Horne give their player-by-player insights ahead of what should be a fascinating Ashes duel in Australia.

Australia v England: the 2017-18 Ashes battle is about to get underway.

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HERE’S how the main men measure up on the eve of the biggest rivalry in the history of cricket - the Ashes.

Aussie cricket writer BEN HORNE runs us through the home side’s possible XI and squad members, while SunSport’s JOHN ETHERIDGE takes care of the England analysis.

Australia v England: the 2017-18 Ashes battle is about to get underway.

AUSTRALIA

Steve Smith - captain

STRENGTHS: Best batsman in the world — or at least in the grand final with his counterpart Joe Root.

WEAKNESSES: This is a test of Smith’s captaincy. He must show what he’s made of after a lean patch in charge.

PERSONAL FACT: Treats himself to a bar of chocolate every time he scores a hundred.

Cameron Bancroft

STRENGTHS: Hard nut from Perth. He has world-class defence. Confidence sky high after double ton in Shield cricket.

WEAKNESSES: Making debut in the Ashes cauldron is not easy.

PERSONAL FACT: Would have made his Test debut in 2015 in Bangladesh but tour was called off over terrorism fears.

David Warner

STRENGTHS: If he has a massive series, Australia will be hard to stop. One of the most destructive batsmen in Test history at home.

WEAKNESSES: Has cut the sledging but will not hold back against the old enemy.

PERSONAL FACT: Started out as a right-hander.

David Warner is looking to have a big summer.

Usman Khawaja

STRENGTHS: Top consistency on home soil. Ice cool and a brilliant stroke-player.

WEAKNESSES: Vulnerable against quality spin bowling.

PERSONAL FACT: The Pakistan-born batsman says he was victim of racism when coming through the Australia junior ranks.

Peter Handscomb

STRENGTHS: Tough and talented, has the potential to be Australia’s long-term middle-order anchor. Averages 50 from ten Tests.

WEAKNESSES: Can occasionally get too deep in his crease. Patchy form in Sheffield Shield this season.

PERSONAL FACT: His parents are English.

Shaun Marsh

STRENGTHS: Experienced head and despite a record that overall is inconsistent, his output at Test level is good.

WEAKNESSES: Marsh’s body breaks down regularly and a hamstring tear or a seized-up back mid-Test could be a total disaster.

PERSONAL FACT: Sister Melissa is a top basketball player.

Eighth time luck? Shaun Marsh is back...again.

Tim Paine

STRENGTHS: Has proven himself over a long period of time to be among the best — if not THE best wicketkeeper in the country.

WEAKNESSES: One ton in 91 career matches.

PERSONAL FACT: Made Test debut in the same match as Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2010.

Mitchell Starc

STRENGTHS: Is there a better left-arm swing bowler in cricket?

WEAKNESSES: Hasn’t fully fired against England in the past.

PERSONAL FACT: Starc was a wicketkeeper until he was 15. Switched due to his now wife Alyssa Healy — Australia’s women’s keeper — being in the team.

Pat Cummins

STRENGTHS: Only played in five Test matches due to injury but every one of them has been impressive. Natural match-winner.

WEAKNESSES: Five-match Ashes series seems as though it will be a struggle for him.

PERSONAL FACT: Spent his time out obtaining a degree from university.

Pat Cummins will look to put a history of injuries behind him.

Josh Hazlewood

STRENGTHS: Great line and length bowler and arguably the best of the attack.

WEAKNESSES: Has not played his best against England. Has just one first-class match under his belt ahead of Ashes.

PERSONAL FACT: Punters in his home town won $50,000 off his Test debut — backing him at 500/1 to play for Australia.

Nathan Lyon

STRENGTHS: Has an outstanding record bowling to left-handers — and England have a stack of them.

WEAKNESSES: England will go after him and pressure a pace attack without a back-up all-rounder.

PERSONAL FACT: Lyon used to be on the groundstaff at Adelaide Oval.

Rest of squad

CHADD SAYERS: Accurate fast-medium bowler was leading wicket-taker in 2012-13 Sheffield Shield.

JACKSON BIRD: Thirty-year-old fast bowler who plays for Tasmania. Has taken 34 wickets in his eight Tests at 27.47 a piece, having made his debut in December 2012.

(Australia squad named for first two Tests)

LISTEN! With the Ashes battle set to commence, we dissect the teams both on the field and in the commentary boxes and The Sun’s chief cricket writer John Etheridge gives his take on upcoming hostilities.

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ENGLAND

Joe Root - captain

STRENGTHS: Run machine in all formats whose baby-faced visage masks a streak of steel.

WEAKNESSES: Gets out between 50 and 99 too often — his conversion rate should be better.

PERSONAL FACT: He sometimes brings his ukulele on tour, this time he has a guitar.

Alastair Cook

STRENGTHS: Has immense powers of concentration and stamina, the man who doesn’t sweat has amassed an amazing 11,000 runs in Test-match cricket.

WEAKNESSES: Can be vulnerable to balls nibbling around the off stump.

PERSONAL FACT: Ex-skipper has never lost in the dreaded yo-yo stamina test.

Former skipper Alastair Cook will be out to do a job with the bat.

Mark Stoneham

STRENGTHS: Gritty left-hander who, at the age of 30, completely understands his game and has perfect temperament for Test cricket.

WEAKNESSES: He has a tendency to make good deliveries appear to be unplayable.

PERSONAL FACT: His wife Serene is an Australian.

James Vince

STRENGTHS: Two Test half- centuries last summer when below his best, so he is a determined character.

WEAKNESSES: Dumped to his knees when bowled by a Kagiso Rabada yorker.

PERSONAL FACT: Born in London, he went to South Africa at the age of seven and then returned to the UK at 18.

Dawid Malan

STRENGTHS: Two Test half- centuries last summer when below his best, so he is a determined character.

WEAKNESSES: Dumped to his knees when bowled by a Kagiso Rabada yorker.

PERSONAL FACT: Born in London, he went to South Africa at the age of seven and then returned to the UK at 18.

Jonny Bairstow

STRENGTHS: Scores heavily all round the wicket and is hugely improved as a wicketkeeper.

WEAKNESSES: He has struggled when coming up against the short ball in the past.

PERSONAL FACT: He writes emotionally in his autobiography about the suicide in 1998 of Test cricketing father David.

Jonny Bairstow will wear the gloves for England.

Moeen Ali

STRENGTHS: Instinctive, counter-attacking batsman and is constantly improving as an off-spinner.

WEAKNESSES: Prone to rushes of blood at crucial times and can sometimes fall to soft dismissals.

PERSONAL FACT: His grandmother was White British lady Betty Cox.

Chris Woakes

STRENGTHS: Nice guy and a low-maintenance character who bats well and bowls with pace and movement.

WEAKNESSES: Has not had achieved too much success with the ball overseas.

PERSONAL FACT: He has a haircut at least once every fortnight.

Jake Ball

STRENGTHS: Strong, tall seamer who hits the pitch and is pushing for a Test place.

WEAKNESSES: Has taken just two wickets in three Tests at an average of 114.

PERSONAL FACT: His uncle is Bruce French, former England stumper and wicketkeeping coach on this tour.

Stuart Broad has been talking himself up again.

Stuart Broad

STRENGTHS: Big-match player with ability to produce unstoppable, wicket-laden spells.

WEAKNESSES: Has quiet periods with the ball and his batting has fallen apart after taking blow to head in 2014.

PERSONAL FACT: He co-owns a pub in Nottingham that serves a delicious Sunday roast.

Jimmy Anderson

STRENGTHS: Skilful swing bowler is England’s record wicket-taker with 506.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks the speed of some Aussie bowlers to threaten when the ball stops moving.

PERSONAL FACT: Bowled in front of the James Anderson End at Old Trafford in English summer.

Rest of squad

GARY BALLANCE: Strong cutter and puller but suspect footwork.

CRAIG OVERTON: Decent pace from an easy action. Can lose temper and focus.

BEN FOAKES: Alec Stewart called him “best wicketkeeper in the world”.

MASON CRANE: Confident, inexperienced leg-spinner.

TOM CURRAN: Feisty bowler who could shine at Test level.

Originally published as John Etheridge, Ben Horne’s Ashes guide to Australia v England