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

Weaknesses

Ball and Anderson are both not fully fit

With the first Ashes Test in Brisbane just a week away, the visitors have a number of notable absentees in their squad due to an injury crisis.

During the warm-up game against Cricket Austalia XI, Jake Ball, with strained ankle tendons, added to England's injury woes.

Bowling spearhead James Anderson is down with a bug and Steven Finn has already left the tour with a torn knee cartilage.

Liam Plunkett was also ruled out after he sustained an injury playing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Ben Stokes, a vital cog in England's Test team, was not picked in the touring Ashes squad as he is still under police investigation because of the Bristol street brawl that took place in September.