Ashes 2017/18: Australia's probable Test squad

The last time England came to Australia, they left home with several players scarred with memories they will have to deal with for the rest of their life. However, this time around, things don't look so bad. They have an in-form squad even in the absence of Ben Stokes and so Australia have to be on their toes to retain the Ashes.

The squad for the Ashes will be announced on Friday, following the conclusion of the current round of Sheffield Shield matches. While the Australian Test squad for the large part is settled, there are still two major question marks with the No.6 spot and the all-rounder slot still up for grabs.

With that in mind, here's Australia's probable squad for Ashes.

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Openers

David Warner

The 31-year-old played in the last three rounds of the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales but while he hasn't been able to record a century in that time, Australia's vice-captain will be the second name on the list after the captain. With 20 Test tons to his name already, Warner will be looking to add to that and cross the 6,000 mark as well.

Matthew Renshaw

While there has been some debate surrounding the opening slot, the 21-year-old Matthew Renshaw looks set to get another chance to prove himself, especially considering his start to international cricket. While the southpaw has struggled to convert his starts in the last three rounds, he is one of only three Aussie batsmen to cross 600 runs before their 22nd birthday and his last Test appearance in Australia saw him score a career-best of 184 against Pakistan at the SCG.

Middle-order

They will form the bedrock of the middle-order

Usman Khawaja

Despite Shaun Marsh's impressive start to the Shield season, Usman Khawaja looks certain to take the No.3 spot in the side. He has already been informed of his inclusion prior to the start of the domestic season and is in great form as well. He scored a fifty in both innings against New South Wales and apart from that he also has a century.

Steve Smith

His technique might not be textbook but there is little doubt about his ability to grind out runs. Averaging nearly 60 in Tests, Smith will come into the Ashes with a fifty and century in the game against Western Australia, who boast of one of the bowling attacks in the country and will be in the mood to add to his tally of 5 Ashes centuries.

Peter Handscomb

Although Handscomb is still young in terms of his international career, he has already got off to a great start. An average of over 50 in 10 Tests that has seen him score two centuries and four fifties is proof of that. He will look to ensure that the familiar middle-order woes that plague Australia in the last Ashes Down Under aren't repeated.

All-rounders

Bancroft has been in sensational form

Cameron Bancroft (WK)

Ahead of the final round of the Sheffield Shield before the Ashes squad announcement, the selectors had two main problems, the No.6 spot and the choice of wicketkeeper. Capable of filling both slots, Cameron Bancroft is the ideal choice for Australia as he can kill two birds with one stone.

With neither Peter Nevill or Matthew Wade delivering impressive numbers with the bat and behind the stumps, having the most in-form batsmen in the country in the squad certainly makes a lot of sense. The 24-year-old from WA has 442 runs at an average of 110 in his three first-class outings this season and even scored a double century in this round against South Australia.

Hilton Cartwright

While Mitchell Marsh has consistently been amongst the runs for WA, a side which he now captains, Australia are likely to go with his teammate Hilton Cartwright as the designated all-rounder. Although born in Zimbabwe, Cartwright has been on fire for Western Australia in the last 12 months.

He is the leading JLT Sheffield Shield run-scorer over the past 12 months with 856 runs at an average of 47.55 and his current form, especially in the longest format might just force the selectors' hand.

Pacers

Hazlewood and Starc will have Cummins for company

Mitchell Starc

If England had any doubts about Mitchell Starc's ability to comeback to full form ahead of the Ashes, they only had to see the way he destroyed Western Australia by taking a hat-trick in both and helping New South Wales win by 171 runs. Courtesy of his two hat-tricks in the game, the 27-year-old became the first bowler to achieve it in the Sheffield Shield and only only the eighth player to do it in a first-class game.

Pat Cummins

Ahead of the Ashes, Pat Cummins has been the man tasked with keeping up the verbal battles and the right-arm pacer who breathes fire on the pitch has certainly minced no words ahead of the Ashes. He wants to be the enforcer like Mitchell Johnson was in 2013 and goes into the first Test at the Gabba with some solid overs under his belt.

Josh Hazlewood

Along with Starc and Cummins, Hazlewood was part of the three-pronged pace attack that has terrorized the opponents in this season's Sheffield Shield. He will be looking to fly under the radar and silently pick up the wickets just as he does for NSW during the Ashes.

Spinner

Nathan Lyon

Australia's most successful off-spinner of all-time will be the side's designated spinner for the Ashes. With his ability to tie down the runs from one end, he will be the ideal foil for Australia's pace trio as they seek to breathe fire upon England in the Ashes.

While the offie has always been amongst the wickets and been hugely successful in Australia as well, considering the quality of the current pace attack, his role might well be slightly different as compared to the last few series that he has taken part in. After enjoying plenty of turn and bounce in Bangladesh and India, Lyon might have to be content with being the fourth wheel in this Aussie bowling attack.

Jackson Bird (12th man).