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

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.