Ashes 2015: How England and Australia Shape up in Each Department

Openers

Both sides' openers have different attributes yet one thing in common: they are all left-handed.

We know the identity of England's pair. Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth are three years apart in age but the disparity in the number of Test caps is massive (112). (Alastair Cook not sure of giving up captaincy after Ashes)

There were encouraging signs against New Zealand that Cook was reacquainted with the whereabouts of his off-stump. Lyth struck his maiden century at Headingley with great poise but, despite facing Trent Boult, the Ashes is another step up in temperament and technique.

David Warner is an opener who can prompt sleepless nights for opposition fast bowlers. Warner can devastate within the hour, sending the scoreboard dizzy and shredding the confidence of the best of bowlers. (Ashes 2015 triumph will be my best achievement: Cook)

He has a knack of scoring centuries in the first match of the series. Chris Rogers is likely to accompany him, offering a calming influence and a considerable contrast. The other option is Shaun Marsh, son of Geoff, who opened for Australia in the 80s, and brother of Mitchell, who is also on the tour. Both are likely to start as onlookers.

Middle-order

Neither Gary Ballance nor Ian Bell prospered against New Zealand. Since then Bell has hit a century for Warwickshire but Ballance has continued to struggle.

If the bonding party to Spain is a fair indication - and it surely is - then both will survive. Bell, like Michael Clarke for Australia, is the only survivor in his team of the epic 2005 series.

Joe Root qualifies as England's banker, while Ben Stokes is now No6. He has the respect of the Aussies after his exploits in the Ashes two years ago. So they will probably have a word with him along the way.

Steve Smith has been promoted to three, which is where all the greatest Aussie batsmen have played. For Australians it is a badge of honour. (Contrast that with Root staying at five for England.)

Smith has been Australia's leading run-scorer in the past 12 months. At four comes Michael Clarke, probably in his last Ashes series in England; then Adam Voges in his first Ashes series aged 35; then, probably, Shane Watson. The Aussies do not tend to plan for the future in an Ashes series so Mitchell Marsh's youth does not particularly count in his favour. (Steve Smith lets his 'bat do the talking')

Wicketkeeper

A year and eight matches into his Test career Jos Buttler seems an integral and remarkably senior part of the furniture. His keeping retains some rough edges, especially when standing up to spinners.

The way the Australians are likely to play Moeen, or any other spinner England select, there may be the odd stumping chance coming his way. Buttler has already demonstrated that he can play different types of innings, though England would like to see him be swashbuckling as frequently as possible.

Brad Haddin is still going strong. My guess is that he will be more potent with the tongue than Buttler and no less aggressive in intent with the bat.

For certain he remains a fierce and uncompromising competitor and a natural team man. However, he is fighting the calendar more than most since it is more demanding keeping wicket day in, day out at the age of 37 than it is scoring runs.

In the last series here he batted magnificently, often in dire situations. Peter Nevill, also from New South Wales, is his understudy.

Spin

A reversal from two years ago. Then, Graeme Swann was reckoned to outstrip anyone Australia picked (they began with Ashton Agar before switching to Nathan Lyon).

Now Lyon is the senior man and Moeen Ali is perceived as a weak link, despite his success against India last summer. The Australians will go hard at Moeen - or indeed any spinner selected by England. This will, as they always say now, "be challenging" for Moeen but it may also create opportunities.

The solution is not to experiment too much. Keep it simple. Nathan Lyon has taken more Test wickets than any Australian off-spinner. There is scope to add plenty more to this as there is an abundance of left-handers in the England line-up.

There may also be an abundance of left-arm pacemen in the Australian team to create rough outside the right-hander's off-stump.

It will be Lyon's duty - and Moeen's - to land the ball there. Steve Smith's leg-breaks should not be relevant - except when Ian Bell is batting. Smith has dismissed him three times in Test cricket and seven times in all.

Pace bowlers

The expectation is that the old firm of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will be joined by Mark Wood with Steven Finn the next in line.

There is an element of wishful thinking in the elevation of Derbyshire's Mark Footitt for the trip to Spain, where Liam Plunkett will also be in attendance.

When the Duke ball is swinging - and unlike the Kookaburra it keeps swinging - Anderson can dismiss anyone. Wood has the advantage of being unfamiliar and, it seems, undaunted. However, Australia's line-up looks stronger - and faster.

Australia do not know who to leave out. Mitchell Starc takes the new ball and has to play; then the agonising starts. Surely Mitchell Johnson will keep his place even if he has to wait until Starc has finished his first spell to have a bowl. (Ryan Harris insists he is fit for the Ashes)

Ryan Harris, who missed the West Indies tour, has taken 57 English wickets out of the 113 he has taken in Tests at 20 apiece. They will want to play him. Yet Josh Hazlewood bowled superbly in the Caribbean, prompting comparisons with Glenn McGrath.

Peter Siddle is unlikely to be selected now Kevin Pietersen is out of the equation.

The coaches

The Aussies will know the England coach better than the Poms. Trevor Bayliss has been lauded to the skies by every Australian interrogated.

Like Darren Lehmann last time he has been parachuted into an Ashes series just days before the start. Lehmann, remember, oversaw an unflattering 3-0 defeat in 2013.

As with the Australians and Bayliss, the English know - and admire - Darren Lehmann after all those years in Yorkshire. Up there it is impossible to hear a word against him.

The coaches admire one another as well - Bayliss took charge of the Australia side for a T20 series against South Africa recently. However, it's not really a glorified game of chess between the two coaches. It's the players who win cricket matches.