England faced with tough task of retaining urn as the Ashes kicks off

The time for talking is nearly over. After what has seemed like a particularly long phoney war, perhaps because of the furore surrounding Ben Stokes, the Ashes finally begins on Thursday (November 23) at the Gabba. While Joe Root's squad have done serviceably in the warm-up matches, some good performances interwoven with some average ones, England will know that history is very much against them in their quest to retain the famous urn following their 3-2 win in 2015.

Since the second World War, England have won just 23 of the 98 Tests they have played in Australia with the home side winning more than twice as many with 50 victories in all. Two of the last three Ashes series down under have resulted in England being whitewashed 5-0 and the tourists have not won at the Gabba since 1986. Australia are unbeaten in Brisbane in 28 Tests and as a result of all that, Steve Smith's men are rightly favourites this time round, too.

But Australia are not perhaps as confident as they might be given their batting inconsistencies. Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade were dropped from their last Test against Bangladesh in September and their replacements, the uncapped opener Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh and wicket-keeper Tim Paine, have received lukewarm support from both the media and former players. Paine has kept in just two State games in the past three years and Marsh averages a middling 36 from 23 Tests. Maxwell, however, was called in as cover a day prior to the Test for David Warner following the vice-captain's sore neck that he sustained during a fielding drill.

England too have their batting demons and will take to the field in Brisbane with a similarly unproven batting line-up although their middle order of Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes is probably stronger than Australia's. Given the shaky top orders on show, much is likely to rest on Warner and Smith for Australia and Alastair Cook and Root for England. They are the two best batsmen on either side and whichever of those pairs have the best series will probably end up on the winning side.

In the bowling attacks, it will be the pace of Australia against the skill and guile of England. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood will be playing a Test for Australia for the first time and will be sure to be the quicker and more aggressive of the two attacks. For England, James Anderson, Woakes and Stuart Broad do not have the pace of their Australian counterparts but should be able to extract any movement on offer from the Gabba surface and will focus on discipline and control as their main weapon.

Australia pick Brisbane for the first Test of series for a reason. It is a cauldron of aggression, both on and off the field, has a fast, bouncy pitch and is often swelteringly hot. It is an environment designed to make life as uncomfortable as possible for visiting teams and it will be the same this week. If England can escape from the Gabba without defeat, they have a chance in the Ashes. But that is a very, very tough ask indeed.

When : Thursday November 23, 2017.

Where : The Gabba, Brisbane

What to expect : The Gabba is renowned as one of the best cricket wickets in Australia, possessing pace and bounce which rewards both good bowling and batting. There has been some wet weather around Brisbane over the past few days, however, and showers and unseasonably cool temperatures are forecast during the match, too, which probably suits England better.

Team News

Australia

Without an all-rounder to balance their team, Australia will be playing just four bowlers in Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood and the excellent off-spinner Nathan Lyon although Steve Smith will provide some overs of leg-spin if necessary. On the batting front, Usman Khawaja will bat at number three with Smith at four, Peter Handscomb at five and Marsh at six. Maxwell was called in as cover for Warner, but the latter is expected to be fit.

Australia XI : David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

England

England picked Jake Ball as the fourth seamer alongside Anderson, Woakes and Broad. Ball fully recovered from a sprained ankle sustained in the second warm-up match in Adelaide. The batting slots were decided early in the tour with James Vince at three and Dawid Malan at five which means no place for Gary Ballance.

England XI : Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (c), Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Jake Ball.

(CRICBUZZ)