Hazlewood is reportedly struggling and Neser is the only like for like in the extended squad. Bowls wicket to wicket and seams the ball.
Starc and boland is a toss up for the 4th seam up spot.
Overall the batting is more important and England have the vastly superior batting lineup- they got most of the bases covered, if they manage to drop Crawley for someone else. Bairstow, Root and Brook are English ATG material - right up there with past ATG's Cook , Strauss and Pietersen. Australian batters are all at sea vs seam in english conditions- bar smith and labuschagne. Carey looks average and not patient enough against quality attacks.
Let's just take a look at the respective lineups before saying one batting lineup is better, right?
Khawaja>Ducket, Don't need to explain this, LOL
Warner>Crawley Warner averages 27 opening in england, crawley averages 23 opening in england, warner is a far better player overall
Marnus>Pope Don't think this is a serious debate either
Smith=Root. You can probably make an argument for either at the moment and i'de believe you. Smith is better on career numbers, and since the start of the last ashes in england is averaging 56 compared to root's 52. But if you go after the 2019 ashes (which I think is fairier, given that smith clearly got worked out after that at home vs NZ and struggled a bit more) root averages 55 compared to 46 for smith.
Brook>Head I could see an argument being made for head but he doesn't have the away runs to validate this. Neither have played in typical english conditions since hitting their straps in test cricket so not sure how to do this, gonna give it to brook for generosities sake.
Green>Stokes. Stokes has the ability to play more impactful innings but green has a much better domestic FC batting record in a harder comp, and since green's debut green averages 37.7, Stokes averages 30.5.
Bairstow>Carey No real debate here.
Both tails are dogshit unless england play woakes or curran at 8, which I don't see them doing in the 1st test.
Australia are clearly better, maybe a bit closer if you put root ahead of smith which I could see. This lineup is also being a bit generous given that england may play woakes at 7 if stokes can't bowl, so think that evens out the root/smith factor.