Here, Press Association Sport considers where the opening contest may be won, lost – or drawn.
IS THIS MITCH IN JOHNSON’S CLASS?
If Mitchell Starc, left-arm fast like his 2013/14 predecessor Johnson, is anywhere near the latter’s pomp there will be little England can do to stop him.
The tourists were in denial, publicly at least, as Johnson took his 37 wickets at under 14 each four years ago. Put simply, though, they were helpless – and could not be fairly criticised for that against a bowler who would have run through any team that winter.
Starc is a decent replacement, fast and able to swing the old and new ball – with the pace of Pat Cummins and relentless accuracy of Josh Hazlewood for company. England will be up against it again, but should be able to keep this Mitch at bay a little longer at least.
Australia’s new-ball specialist: Mitchell Starc
WHICH COOK IS ON THIS TOUR?
Alastair Cook’s form will be a critical factor. England’s stated gameplan is to keep Australia in the field as long as possible, and tire out their three specialist seamers.
To do so, they will surely need Cook to do a fair impression of his 2010/11 immovable self. England’s all-time record runscorer does not necessarily need to rack up another 766 runs, but if he can ensure third and fourth spells for Australia’s much-hyped pace attack, he will be doing a sterling job.
Run-machine: Alastair Cook
WEATHER EYE
The chat about Brisbane thunderstorms appears to have waned – and so far this week, precious little playing time would have been taken out of any day.
Even so, the forecast remains uncertain, and the clouds were building ominously in the city centre by late afternoon local time on Wednesday.
It may seem rather negative for the tourists to be pinning too many hopes on a rain-interrupted draw here – on the other hand, they will know pretty much any way they can get out of Brisbane level or better will force Australia to think again.
The stage is set for the 70th #Ashes series! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/hpgYkm2BVn
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 22, 2017
‘NASTY’ NATHAN
Before Monday of this week, Nathan Lyon was not one of the names that screamed off Australia’s team sheet. Yes, the doughty off-spinner could be expected to prove an efficient foil for the pace bowlers around him.
England were not quaking in their boots. On the morning of his 30th birthday, though, there was something in the air up at the National cricket Centre, adjacent to Allan Border Field.
Lyon let rip about ending England careers, players too scared to bat properly on the last tour and getting opposition captain Joe Root dropped. Suddenly, he has emerged as the Australian the touring supporters can love to hate.
Time to deliver: Nathan Lyon
THE BRISBANE EFFECT
Australians do not tire of pointing out their ominous record of invincibility against England at the Gabba, dating back more than 30 years and taking in seven tours.
It is just seven years ago, though, that Cook and others so convincingly halted the slide that it was the hosts who never truly recovered on the way to a 3-1 series defeat – despite making the most of their other banker venue, Perth.
Root has spoken of ‘upsetting the apple cart’ in Brisbane. If England somehow can, it will be very interesting to see if Australia can reassemble the parts.
Australia have been unbeatable at The Gabba in the lifetimes of @stevesmith49 and @root66! Will that change this week? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/GzhpOMBydb
— ICC (@ICC) November 22, 2017
Provided by Press Association Sport
