Steve Smith To Ben Stokes - Five Players To Watch Out For In Ashes!

The first Test between England and Australia starts at Brisbane's Gabba on Wednesday. Here, let's have a look at the five players who could be match-winners in the Ashes.

Steve Smith (Australia)

The world's number three ranked Test batsman -- behind England skipper Joe Root and New Zealand's Kane Williamson -- was heroic during the last Ashes series in England in 2019, a campaign often referred to as the "Steve Smith series".

He plundered 774 runs at an average of 110.57, including three centuries and the highest score of 211 to help his team draw the series 2-2 and retain the urn, reinforcing the fidgety right-hander as one of the world's pre-eminent stars.

Smith, who has scored 27 centuries in 77 Tests at an average of 61.80, is expected to come in at number four, behind Marnus Labuschagne, as he renews battle with Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, who between them have removed him 14 times.

Three key match-ups that could decide the Ashes

Quick-footed and adept at facing spin, Smith is equally comfortable driving and pulling fast bowling while able to improvise, making him a dangerous opponent.

He is an outstanding slip fielder with 123 catches and bowls occasional leg-spin.

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