Ashes 2017/18: SWOT analysis of Australia ahead of the series

The 2017-18 edition of the oldest rivalry in world cricket - 'The Ashes' is nearly upon us.

England and Australia will grapple for the 70th time in the last 135 years to claim the iconic Ashes urn.

Hosted in turn by England and Australia at least once every four years, the upcoming Ashes series will be played Down Under, starting 23rd November at the Gabba.

This time, under the leadership of Joe Root and Steven Smith, both teams will lock horns at five separate venues with the Test series concluding on 8th January at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground.

With England winning the last Ashes series at home, the head-to-head record stands even at the moment. Overall, both sides are on an equal footing with 32 series wins each.

However, a lot has changed since Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke’s troops battled it out in 2015 to win a contest that is considered the pinnacle of Test cricket.

Now, let’s do a SWOT Analysis for hosts Australia and see how they fare against the touring party.

Strengths

Home advantage - There is no denying the fact that Australia are a tough cookie at home. Australian tracks are fast and bouncy, whereas, in England, the ball tends to swing in the air and seam off the pitch. Moreover, familiarity with local conditions and crowd support can be a huge factor for the hosts.

Past Ashes experience - Australia have won 140 while England have secured 108 of the 341 Ashes matches played so far. The visitors are the current holders of the urn but they were whitewashed 5-0 the last time they played Down Under.

Recent performance - Australia have won six of their past seven Test series at home. Other than South Africa, no other team has been able to get past the Kangaroos since 2012.

Weaknesses

The Aussies are not the most experienced team going around

Unsettled squad - The Australian Test team underwent a complete overhaul after their Ashes 2015 loss and the home drubbing by South Africa in 2016. Major re-shuffles in the batting-order have left a lot of slots open and there is no clarity as to who will play at which position.

Lack of experience - The new-look home team clearly lacks the experience of five-day cricket. Cameron Bancroft is yet to play his maiden Test while Hilton Cartwright has played just two. Although Matt Renshaw has a Test hundred under his belt, he has played only nine Tests in total.

Lack of Ashes experience - The Ashes series is both emotionally and physically exhausting. Newcomers find it really hard to cope with the pressure of a fiercely-contested series. The Australian squad lacks ample Test cricket experience, let alone the Ashes.

Opportunities

Steve Smith's side have the opportunity to climb up the rankings with a series win

Back-to-back Ashes wins at home - Australia are a force to reckon with when they play at home. In the 2006-07 Ashes, the hosts completely dominated and wrapped up the series 5-0. It was the first Ashes whitewash in 81 years.

Improvement in ICC Test rankings - Earlier this year, Steven Smith's men were just one defeat away from becoming the lowest-ranked Australian Test team in almost three decades. Fortunately, the two-match Test series against Bangladesh was drawn 1-1 as the Aussies won in Chittagong and avoided the slip. However, Australia are still at the fifth position, while England are at number three.

Building a new team - With Australia losing a lot of star players like Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson since Ashes 2015 due to retirements and bad form, there is a major opportunity for the emerging talent to become mainstays in the Australian Test squad.

Threats

The Aussies will look to take advantage of Ben Stokes' absence

Complacency - With an incredible home record, there is a possibility that the hosts might become complacent. South Africa and England have managed to beat Australia at home and on paper, the visitors are a better equipped and experienced team.

Verbal spats/sledging - The Ashes and sledging go hand in hand. Everyone from the players to the crowds to the umpires gets involved and the cricket field turns into a war zone. Australia vice-captain David Warner has already dropped a hot potato by calling the upcoming series 'a war'. The Aussies, who are known to suffer from the occasional 'brain-fade', must concentrate on their game rather than mental disintegration.

Finding loopholes in England's preparations - England were dealt a huge blow when Ben Stokes got involved in a street brawl in September. Although he was released from police custody a few hours later, he was not picked in the touring Ashes squad.

Stokes is a vital cog in England's Test team and a lot of Australians have been taking digs at the all-rounder's off-field behaviour. The hosts don't have a player like Stokes with their number six batting spot still up for grabs, and indulging in mind games will only worsen things for Australia.