2013 Ashes Series - Players to watch

Cook has established himself as one of the best batsmen in the world and has tormented Australia in the past. England’s captain was man of the series in their 2010/11 Ashes triumph after amassing 766 runs at an average of 127.66, including a majestic 235 not out at The Gabba. He recently led England to their first series victory in India for 27 years, breaking the record for the most Test centuries for England with 23.

Australia’s captain is one of the few batsmen in his side in any sort of form after continuing his red-hot streak with an impressive tour of India. Clarke averaged 47.67 on the sub-continent and scored the team’s lone century in four Tests, after amassing a record-breaking 1,545 runs at an average of 101 in an incredible 2012.

The South African-born Trott burst onto the international scene with a century on debut in the fifth Test of the 2009 series as England recaptured the Ashes. He has three centuries and averages 86.42 against Australia after his man of the match 163 not out in the fourth Test of the 2010/11 series set up victory and allowed his side to retain the urn.

Australia’s vice-captain will be looking to prove a point after he forced his way back into the side in India for the first time since early 2012. He has an excellent record against England, scoring 360 runs in the 2010/11 series at an average of 45.00, and 278 runs at an average of 46.33 in the 2009 series. Two of his three Test centuries have come against the old enemy, and his experience will be vital in Australia’s struggling batting order.

If he can overcome a current injury concern, Pietersen will be England’s x-factor. He averages 52.71 against Australia thanks to three centuries, the first of which came in the fifth Test of the 2005 Ashes series, allowing England to recapture the urn for the first time since 1986-87. Despite a brief hiatus from the team in 2012, Pietersen sits one behind Alastair Cook for most Test centuries for England with 22.

Rogers could be Australia’s answer to their recent batting woes. The 35-year-old played his only Test match in 2008, but has nine years of experience in English county cricket and a proven track record, racking up 9,375 runs at an average of 54.19 for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Middlesex.

Anderson was England’s main destroyer in their 2010/11 Ashes triumph, leading all bowlers with 24 wickets. He became the second youngest English player to reach 200 Test wickets in that series and recently became just the fourth Englishman to surpass 300. He is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in all forms of the game and will be a constant threat to Australia’s top order.

Siddle has been Australia’s most reliable bowling option for the last few years after bursting onto the scene in 2008 after just 12 first-class matches. The 28-year-old took 20 wickets in the 2009 Ashes series in England and his career best figures of 6/54 came in the 2010/11 series when he took a hat-trick on his birthday at the Gabba. He is currently the fifth best bowler in the world according to ICC rankings.

Ranked the third-best spinner in the world by the ICC, Swann played a pivotal role in England’s 2009 and 2010/11 Ashes triumphs, taking 14 and 15 wickets respectively. He became the first English spinner to take 50 wickets in a calendar year in 2009, and will be looking to prove he is still England’s premier spinner after an injury-plagued 2012/13.

Australia’s number one spinner will be under pressure to perform in England, with selectors fast-tracking asylum seeker Fawad Ahmed onto the scene. Despite being dropped for the second Test in India, the off-spinner was Australia’s leading wicket-taker on the sub-continent for the third time in Australia’s last four Test series’.