Steve Smith
Steve Smith, who has been Australia's premier batsman for more than a decade, has garnered 10,447 runs in 119 Test matches. He also has 36 centuries in the format's history. Out of 36 tons, the right-hander has 12 Ashes centuries, including the best score of 239 runs at Perth
Mitchell Starc
The last fit member of Australia's first-choice pace trio, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined because of injuries. An excellent new-ball bowler, left-armer Starc famously bowled Rory Burns' first ball of the last home Ashes. His 402 wickets in 100 tests place him fourth on Australia's all-time list
Scott Boland
A cult hero since his remarkable 6-7 on debut at the MCG in 2021. Boland's 62 wickets at 16.53 in 14 Tests would make him an automatic pick on most teams, but the 36-year-old has often been squeezed out behind Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood
Joe Root
The No. 1-ranked batsman and second-highest scorer in Test cricket, Joe Root, has never scored an Ashes century in Australia. His average of 35.68 in 14 tests here lags far behind his career mark of 51.29
Ben Stokes
England's talismanic captain and "Bazball" figurehead. Stokes can win matches almost single-handedly. Despite being test cricket's leading six-hitter, though, he averages just 28.61 with the bat and 41 with the ball in Australia

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