English press rate Aussie Ashes quicks

England’s media are expecting an all-out pace assault this winter following Australia’s Ashes squad unveiling in Melbourne yesterday.

Five specialist fast bowlers have been selected by Australian selectors in a 17-man party to travel to the British Isles in hot pursuit of retaining the Ashes.

Quick Single: Test squads named for winter tours

The Daily Mail analysed Australia’s fiery quicks, excluding Victorian Peter Siddle, and gave them a ‘fear factor’ rating out of 10.

It’s no surprise that 2013-14 Ashes tormentor Mitchell Johnson was awarded the highest ‘fear factor’ rating of 9/10, with his main weapon to be a bouncer to the right-hander’s armpit, and his verbal sledging that is said to be “delivered in proportion to the length of his moustache.” 

Watch: Mitchell Johnson's 37 Ashes wickets from 2013-14

Mitchell Starc and Ryan Harris were both rated 8/10, and the latter is said to possess “almost inhuman accuracy”, while the NSW Blues quick is “never afraid to get stuck in – and can go too far” when it comes to having a word with the batsmen.

And right-armer Josh Hazlewood is said to be “on the quiet side, at least by Australian standards” when it comes to sledging, earning himself a rating of 7/10 for his “Glenn McGrath-like ability to hit the same spot, time and again.”

The Times also rated the remainder of the Test squad, handing out a top score of 9/10 to three Australians: captain Michael Clarke, his deputy Steve Smith, and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon, who took nine wickets in three Ashes Tests in 2013, could play a vital role against an England side that could feature as many as five left-handed batsmen, especially if the English pitches replicate the dry conditions the Australians faced two years ago. 

Watch: Nathan Lyon's spin bowling Master Class

Bupa Support Staff Head Coach Darren Lehmann also received a 9/10 since “transforming” the team after he took over on the eve of the last away Ashes, while Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin and David Warner were all awarded 8/10.

Allrounder Shane Watson was given a 6/10, and “England’s bowlers will be eyeing up his big front pad” when the series starts on July 8 in Cardiff.

With 10 players 30 years of age or older, The Guardian says Australia’s selectors have invested in a “platoon of veterans” for the Ashes campaign, while England’s policy remains to develop youth.

But as the article points out, despite the disparity of average age between the two sides of almost three years, the average Test experience of each squad member is approximately 31 matches.

Early indications are the English public aren’t confident in their team regaining the Ashes, voting 85-15 in a poll hosted on the Daily Mirror website.