fresh from being crowned world cup champions, australia have announced their 17 man squad to face england in the ashes this summer alastair cook and co face a daunting prospect in trying to reclaim the urn they surrendered with such a whimper last year, especially with pace men mitchell starc and last year's danger man mitchell johnson in their prospective bowling line up here, sportsmail's cricket expert lawrence booth assesses the intimidating australian squad man by man michael clarke (capt) age 33  caps 108  verdict age has not diminished his class, as he proved in the world cup final but his dodgy back could be an issue in a five test series should out captain alastair cook once more david warner  age 28  caps 36  verdict could win a test or two by himself if he bats for a couple of sessions moeen ali’s off breaks will be crucial in pinning him down likes to say a word or two shane watson  age 33  caps 56  verdict has a decent record in ashes cricket, but has never reached the stage where he frightens england but his medium pace balances australia’s team in a way cook can only envy shaun marsh  age 31  caps 12  verdict a gritty left hander, and son of former test opener geoff began test career with 141 in sri lanka in 2011, but success has been sporadic since then cv includes six ducks mitchell johnson  age 33  caps 64  verdict if england haven’t got over the trauma of the 2013 14 series, when johnson took 37 wickets at 13 apiece, the ashes will stay with australia josh hazlewood  age 24  caps 3  verdict one of a batch of promising australian fast bowlers, he proved economical beyond his years during the successful world cup campaign a flawless action bodes well james faulkner  age 24  caps 1  verdict played his only test to date at the oval in 2013, where he got up england’s noses by accusing them of boring batting a left arm seam bowling all rounder, he can give the ball an almighty whack james pattinson  age 24  caps 13  verdict injuries have limited him since he burst on to the scene in 2011 12, but the talent is undeniable: tall, aggressive and fast, he should trouble england more than his brother, darren, when playing for england in a single test against south africa in 2008 peter siddle  age 30  caps 56  verdict the banana loving seamer is a veteran of two ashes tours, and could provide relentless accuracy while the quicker bowlers fire around him kevin pietersen, for one, found him almost impossible to score off in 2013 14 brad haddin (wkt) age 37  caps 63  verdict australia’s second most important cog in their 5 0 ashes wheel in 2013 14, after mitchell johnson his sledging from behind the stumps is considered the heartbeat of the team chris rogers  age 37  caps 20  verdict this will be his last hurrah in a late blooming test career calm, compact and the perfect foil for the exuberance of his opening partner warner steve smith (vice captain) age 25  caps 26  verdict one of world cricket’s rising stars, he scored four tons in australia’s recent home series against india will captain the side full time after clarke retires, and can burgle the odd wicket with his leg spin nathan lyon  age 27  caps 39  verdict a steady off spinner who troubled england’s right handers  during whitewash but, really, they should have nothing to fear mitchell starc  age 25  caps 15  verdict another left arm seamer, and man of the tournament at the world cup his yorkers are as dangerous in tests as they are in odis, and  accuracy and pace have improved ryan harris  age 35  caps 27  verdict if he can drag his injury laden body through one final series, australia will be thrilled he was an unsung star during their 3 0 defeat here two years ago, and produced the ball of the series to bowl cook in perth josh hazlewood  age 24  caps 3  verdict one of a batch of promising australian fast bowlers, he proved economical beyond his years during the successful world cup campaign a flawless action bodes well fawad ahmed  age 33  caps 20  verdict the pakistan born leg spinner has played only three one day internationals and two twenty20 games for australia, so would represent a risk but australian leggies have done well in england before…  michael clarke (capt) age 33  caps 108  verdict age has not diminished his class, as he proved in the world cup final but his dodgy back could be an issue in a five test series should out captain alastair cook once more david warner  age 28  caps 36  verdict could win a test or two by himself if he bats for a couple of sessions moeen ali’s off breaks will be crucial in pinning him down likes to say a word or two shane watson  age 33  caps 56  verdict has a decent record in ashes cricket, but has never reached the stage where he frightens england but his medium pace balances australia’s team in a way cook can only envy shaun marsh  age 31  caps 12  verdict a gritty left hander, and son of former test opener geoff began test career with 141 in sri lanka in 2011, but success has been sporadic since then cv includes six ducks mitchell johnson  age 33  caps 64  verdict: if england haven’t got over the trauma of the 2013 14 series, when johnson took 37 wickets at 13 apiece, the ashes will stay with australia peter siddle  age 30  caps 56  verdict the banana loving seamer is a veteran of two ashes tours, and could provide relentless accuracy while the quicker bowlers fire around him kevin pietersen, for one, found him almost impossible to score off in 2013 14 mitchell marsh  age 23  caps 4  verdict a rangy all rounder and younger brother of shaun, marsh stunned england during the world cup with figures of 5 for 33 at melbourne – despite having taken only six odi wickets until then his batting is the stronger suit peter nevill  age 29  caps 0  verdict peter who? nevill has been chosen as the reserve wicketkeeper behind his new south wales team mate haddin, although he has also played as a specialist batsman for his state team unlikely to get a game unless haddin breaks a finger adam voges  age 35  caps 0  verdict an outsider for a test debut, but he knows english conditions well – voges has spent time with hampshire, middlesex and nottinghamshire – and bowls left arm spin to complement his middle order hitting
mitchell johnson england australia mitchell starc world cup this summer
england welcome australia for the ashes on home turf this summer  cricket world cup winners have announced their 17 man squad  pace bowlers including mitchell starc and mitchell johnson are included 