Stop 10 - Aussies plan to uproot Joe

Ten is the magic number for Australia's bowling attack as they aim to stop England captain Joe Root and win the Ashes series for the first time abroad since 2001.

Root is England's top-ranked Test batsman – No.7 on the official ICC rankings – who scored two match-winning centuries four years ago to help his side regain the Ashes and extend Australia's barren run in the UK to 18 years without a Test series win.

Root is the "top wicket" in England's stacked middle order, according to Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood, who says the tourists' best chance of curtailing the right-hander is to tie him down and get him early.

"He (Root) can get off to a good start, he can get to 20 or 30 runs pretty quickly," Hazlewood told cricket.com.au in Birmingham.

"It's about being straight on the money from ball one against him, really making it hard for him to get to 10 runs and not let him off the hook.

"He doesn't really have any weaknesses to his game, it's just about putting the ball in the right area time and time again and not give him many scoring options. Class player."

Unsparingly, when Root passes 10 his Test average jumps from an excellent 49.03 to an elite 67.61.

Hazlewood says the key is patience when bowling to players of Root's calibre, such as India's Virat Kohli or New Zealand's Kane Williamson.

"The top players, you always have to (be patient)," he said.

"He does play a few shots but nothing out of the ordinary. He's not over-attacking in any way and has a great defence.

"He knows these conditions well. He's definitely the top wicket to get."

Hazlewood will not be targeting Root alone, with an awesome Australia pace battery set to be unleashed on England this series.

One of the six specialist fast bowlers in Australia's 17-man Ashes squad is James Pattinson, who has excelled in English conditions when fit and going.

Pattinson could be taking the new ball in the first Test at Edgbaston from Thursday and should he encounter Root he says he and his fellow quicks will follow a simple plan to uproot the England captain.

"I've played a little bit against him and watched him score many runs on TV as well," Pattinson told cricket.com.au.

"All batters are susceptible to good bowling and if you're hitting the top of off over and over again with a bit of movement most batters find that difficult.

"We'll be no different to him. We'll be trying to bowl in the right areas and try to get him to make a mistake."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval