Ashes 2015: Can England Avenge Last Summer's Annihilation?

Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann and Matt Prior. What do they have in common? Four of England's most successful cricketers in the last decade, who were part of one of their most nightmarish Ashes in recent times and are no longer part of the Three Lions' cricket fraternity. (Flintoff Predicts England Ashes Victory)

Jog your memory back to the Australian summer of 2013-2014 and those images become vivid again. They would haunt generations of England fans for years to come; even if you are a neutral observer, England's 5-0 humiliation Down Under in the Ashes could ring in a sense of sympathy. Such were the horrors, that Trott was forced to take a break from international cricket - after a brief and unsuccessful return, he bid adieu to the game he was once destined to dominate. (Mitch Mania in the Ashes)

Pietersen would never again play for England after the whitewash that shocked England; they were after all a Test team on the rise, expected to bully other sides around the world. KP's tantrums had become unbearable. Swann abandoned ship mid-series while Prior after being part of England's triumph over India at home, hung up his boots in a more gracious setting than the others could afford. (Anderson Gives Up On 'Sledging')

Four stalwarts - nearly half of the England side that was made to endure the torrid series almost two years back - are gone. Fresh faces have taken their places and have seemingly done well. At least at home and that's what matters, at least for the time. Ben Stokes for one, has been remarkable. He was part of the 5-0 drubbing too but the sprightly all-rounder has age on his side - at 24, he cannot be scarred for life.

Stokes has been in the form of his life, taking on New Zealand's strong bowling attack in the two-Test series in England. The Aussies have obviously already started training their guns on Stokes, who can flay the fastest bowlers at will. Then came along the steady and extremely reliable Gary Ballance, whose exploits against the Indians made earned him a permanent fixture in the playing XI. (Starc Promises 'No Respite' For England)

Will the Mitch monster rise again?

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The likes of pacer Mark Woods, spinner Adil Rashid and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler add the kind of aggression and grit that the English would undoubtedly need against the Aussies, who have been on a remarkable high. Crowned the world champions for the fifth time, Michael Clarke's men will look to extend their domination in the longest format as well. They were outstanding against the West Indies and England will soon find how hot the Baggy Greens are again.

Two years back, England had the better of their oldest rivals in a series that's not always played in the best of spirits. A few months later, Australia returned the compliment and crushed England mercilessly. Led by Mitchell Johnson's express pace, the Aussies "mentally disintegrated" every English player on that tour.

It could be a lot different this time. The comforts of home-conditions can never be underscored enough. But New Zealand opened up some cracks in the England team and Australia would be happy to spread them up wider. Will England avenge the humiliation of two summers back? It would be extremely tough, bordering on the impossible.

While England have only just started to rebuild, Australians are a well-oiled killing machine once again, one which has grown stronger and meaner since that annihilation. David Warner and Chris Rogers as openers, Steve Smith as the lead middle-order batsman and Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc as the scary new-ball operators - any team in the world would have their task cut out.

England will need their main men to stand up and fight. Alastair Cook, the captain will have to lead from the front and then bank on his lieutenants Joe Root, Ian Bell, James Anderson and Stuart Broad to score the runs and take the key wickets.

Will these men step up to the party? Or will Australia register another series win?

The next few weeks should give us all the answers.