A player-by-player guide to Australia's Ashes squad

There is nothing like ending a year on a high, and what better than one of the longest-running rivalries in world cricket- The Ashes featuring Australia and England. With both teams level headed with 32 series wins each, Australia will take the field at the Gabba in Brisbane on 23rd of November, knowing that they haven’t lost the urn while staging the contest since the 2010-11 series.

Steve Smith and his men have already consumed much of the footage in local media and on the global platform after their squad for the first two Test matches was announced.  And here we present you a player-by-player guide to the Australian Ashes squad. Hold on to your seats, it get’s interesting from here on.

1. Steven Smith– Captain, All-rounder

He brought the term ‘brain-fade’ into the gentlemen’s game but more importantly, he brought us delightful strokeplay, eye-catching fielding and hunger to succeed like few. From batting at number 8 to scoring his maiden hundred in the 2013 Ashes with a six, Smith has seen it all.

At home, the skipper carries an average of 68.65 from 24 Tests. He would love to score his maiden double ton at home and marshall his troops in the best possible way. Anything on the pad will be a freebie for Stevie and anything outside off can be countered with that big shuffle across the crease. Over to you Joe!

2. David Warner- Vice Captain, Opening batsman

He will never go out with the English captain and exchange pleasantries over a rum-punch cocktail but he can surely shake hands with the English side after the gruelling series, carrying a winner’s medal and few runs under his belt. Warner had a satisfied tour of Bangladesh, in terms of his own personal batting, where he spent ample time at the crease before playing on the ground and slowly going for the whack.

And the deputy will look to take full advantage of the English bowling attack, which will be without the likes of Steve Finn, Jake Ball and Ben Stokes.

3. Cameron Bancroft– Wicketkeeper batsman

He kept a poster of former Australian opener Justin Langer on his bedroom wall while growing up, and he doesn’t need to look too far for inspiration when the day arrives. Known for his discipline and hard work, Cameron Bancroft is a proper batsman, ideally suited for the longer format. He scored a well-timed 228 last week and forwarded his name to the selector’s table, as the wise men were picking each other’s brain to fill up the wicketkeeper’s and no.6 position.

4. Usman Khwaja- Top-order batsman

A make or break series for the Australia’s no.3 batter, Usman Khawaja always seems to provide a beacon of hope with his silky stroke-play and impressive shot-making ability. There were early signs of brilliance when a 24-year-old replaced Ricky Ponting in the Sydney Ashes Test in 2011. The left-handed batsman scored 37 and 21 in his debut and won a lot of hearts in that forgettable Ashes campaign for Australia.

He plays spin well and is equally good against a swinging red cherry. Khawaja’s quest for glory will have a special chapter if Australia manage to earn the bragging rights from the defending champions.

5. Peter Handscomb- Top-order batsman

He had earlier made his intentions clear that he doesn’t look forward to keeping in the longer format and that it is only the runs on offer, which he looks to fetch. A fifty in his debut Test against South Africa and a hundred against Pakistan at the Gabba, in his second Test, helped the Victoria batsman establish himself in the international set-up.

He has scored 743 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 53.07, and has 2 centuries and four fifties next to his name. He looks solid against both spin and seam, and he will be eager to make a name for himself in a series which has produced some of the greatest heroes in world cricket.

6. Shaun Marsh– Middle-order batsman

34-year-old Shaun Marsh received his ninth call-up into the Australian Test side since making his debut in the year 2011. The southpaw is seen as someone who has a good amount of experience under his belt and poses the technique to counter the second new ball, and his sparkling form, while playing for Yorkshire in the County season and later on in the JLT Cup, helped him book a berth.

At home, Marsh has scored 582 runs from 10 outings in Tests at an average of 34.23, which is a tad below his career average. A fairytale swansong for a talented cricketer like Marsh is what the cricket fans want to see.

7. Tim Paine- Wicketkeeper

He has been dubbed as the best wicketkeeper in Australia by many modern greats. He wasn’t keeping the wickets for his state team Tasmania, as Matthew Wade was entrusted with the job. Wade will carry on with his state duty as Paine now looks to add more action to his injury-hit career.

He has made a return to Test cricket after a gap of seven years, and even though Paine didn’t get much time to prepare for his career’s biggest highlight so far, the 32-year-old will not complain. He scored two fifties recently, one against England while playing for Cricket Australia in the warm-ups and he will be eyeing all the five Test matches by performing well with the bat.

8. Mitchell Starc- Bowler

It won’t be surprising if Mitchell Starc scores a quick fifty or two in the upcoming series, considering some of his cameos with the bat. But with the ball, Starc will spellfire. The best thing about being Starc is that you can ruffle the recognised batsmen and clean up the tail as well.

He announced his arrival with two hat-tricks in the same match against Western Australia recently, and it is most certain that the DVDs have reached the English camp as soon as the game got over.

9. Nathan Lyon– Bowler

Nice, Gary!

With Tim Paine replacing Mathew Wade behind the stumps, the first concern that I had was whether we will get to hear those shouts during the upcoming series. Nathan Lyon jokingly admitted that he will say that to himself as he is used to it now.

New South Wales-born Lyon is the most successful off-spinner for Australia. And with 69 Tests under his kitty, he is one of the most experienced men in the squad for the home team. Lyon has the drift, loop and patience, and all he needs now is a pop-up toaster.

10. Josh Hazlewood- Bowler

This Australian pacer is tall and he has the ability to move the ball both ways. He holds a fine average of 25.75 in Tests. The 26-year-old has scalped 118 wickets from 31 Tests, and he successfully picked four or more wickets on nine occasions.

How England batsmen respond to Hazlewood’s questions will be vital for both the sides. The hosts would want to see him play all the five Tests and make an impact against the likes of Joe Root and Alastair Cook.

11. Pat Cummins- Bowler

He has confessed that deep down he wants to play the role of Mitchell Johnson in the upcoming Ashes series. Pat Cummins said that England should expect both verbal as well as literal bouncers in the Ashes and added that he won’t shy away from intimidating the opposition.

He has called Joe Root and Alastair Cook as ‘prime wickets’ but he won’t mind adding a few more sticks once skipper Steve Smith throws up the ball to him.

12. Jackson Bird- Bowler

An injury to Nathan Coulter-Nile has made way for the 30-year-old medium fast bowler. And an injury to any of the three frontline pacers will see him play the 1st Test match. Bird has been called in as the cover for the Australian pace attack.

Another NSW product, Bird has 34 wickets from 8 Test matches. The pacer has been putting up consistent show in the domestic circuit and he will be watching all the action from close quarters.

13. Chadd Sayers– Bowler

The Australian selectors might have roped in pacer Chadd Sayers to provide a break to one of the three quicks in the second Test in Adelaide. Australia are likely to go with six batsmen and therefore it becomes important to manage the workload of the pacers.

He looks a potential choice for the day-night Test in Adelaide, a venue he is very familiar with. He topped the Sheffield Sheild wicket-takers list in the 2016-17 season with 62 wickets to his name.