First time for many years that i feel we have a quicker/livelier pace attack than OZ - with us having a perm any 4 from Wood,Archer,Tongue,Carse,Atkinson (Tongue has really impressed me recently) - however, you have the usual triumvirate of Cummins,Starc and Hazlewood with the backup of Boland, who i would suggest are better bowlers but also in their twilight Ashes tour methinks. Dont see them (with the exception of Cummins) along with Lyon in a Ashes tour again Also believe we have a better batting unit than Oz for once One thing is for sure, its gonna be a fascinating series.Roll on 21st November.
Cummins is suffering from a lumbar bone stress injury sustained earlier this year and has been ruled out of Australia's white-ball series against New Zealand and India in October. Starc had scans following some rib and side pain during the fourth Test against India in January. He's been cleared to play since then. Hazlewood is recovering from a shoulder injury. He plans to play a Sheffield Shield match next month to assess and prove his fitness. Boland is recovering from a knee problem and is likely to play in the Sheffield Shield next month. They have a combined age of almost 150 years.
In addition, Lance Morris has been ruled out of the series. Spencer Johnson has a back injury which will rule him out until at least December. Ben Dwarshuis has dodgy hammies.
For once, we're entering an Ashes series where England has - arguably - the faster, fitter, fresher, younger pace attack than the Aussies, and a greater depth of options, should they get injured.
The one Aussie quick I would fear although he's not got genuine raw pace is Fergus O'Neill. Was absolutely exceptional for Notts in a brief county stint
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