Since the Second World War, England have won only two Test matches to Australia’s 18 at the Gabba but if Alan Wilkins’s Ashes Preview for Cricbuzz is anything to go buy then England are a better composed and a much better squad head into the Ashes series than the Australian outfit.

November 23 marks the start of another Ashes series with hosts Australia looking to regain the urn while England looking to prevent it from going to their rivals. History thus beckons at Gabba with the two teams almost ready to make it big.

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If the teams are compared then England are more rich on experience and current form than Australia who looks a bit more inexperienced. While there have been some shocking inclusions into the side, a few regulars in the Test squad has been excluded.

A deeper look into the England squad will give you a prove of the experience it carries in every department of the game. Cook shoulders their top order with skipper Joe Root to follow him. The England middle order bats deep with Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes making up their lower middle order at 6, 7 and 8. Cook’s batting form is the only worry that the team management will have to address before the series starts.

The England bowling line up is far more experienced that their rivals. The pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad have nearly 900 Test wickets between them as compared to Australia pace trio together touching close to 300 Test wickets. This means that Nathan Lyon will have to shoulder more responsibility and counter the inexperience. Where the Australian bowling attacks leads England is perhaps that they have more venom as than their counterparts as per Alan Wilkins. Also that they are playing at home might help the Australian bowlers more than England.

A look now at the Australian squad will visibly point out the difference of the squads in terms of experience. David Warner, Steve Smith, and Nathan Lyon are the only players to have played over 50 Test matches. The rest of the squad is pretty inexperienced. Tim Paine’s recall to the Test squad has sent a huge wave of controversy surrounding the squad.  Trevor Hons, the Chairman of Selectors in Australia has backed him saying that he is the best wicketkeeper in the scene right now.  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.

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. However, the experience factor is lacking in the Australian bowling line up which is one of the most important ingredients in a series like the Ashes.

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Injuries are another major issue which both the teams have been busy  addressing before the series starts. England are relieved that all their major players who were injured like Moeen Ali and Jake Ball have recovered in time to be available for the series. Australian though are a bit worried due to a last minute neck injury to David Warner which has forced the team management to rope in Glenn Maxwell as his cover.

Pitch and conditions

Gabba is expected to produce a fast and bouncy wicket with the playing conditions expected to be hot. It is an environment designed to make life as uncomfortable as possible for visiting teams and it will be the same this week. However, and showers and unseasonably cool temperatures are forecast during the match, too, which probably suits England better.

With injuries and team selections to address the marquee series starts tomorrow with Australia aiming to win the urn at home and England desperately trying to reclaim it. The series is expected to be an exciting with verbal vollies and banters also playing its part.  

Squads

Australia 1st & 2nd Test Squad:

Steven Smith(c), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers, Glenn Maxwell

England

Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Joe Root(c), Dawid Malan, Gary Ballance, James Vince, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Mason Crane, Ben Foakes, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jake Ball, Craig Overton, Tom Curran