Aussie star's reality check as huge selection call looms

Josh Hazlewood looks set to miss the opening Ashes Test despite being ruled fit to play, with Scott Boland likely to retain his spot in Australia's line-up.

Boland was highly effective in the Test championship final win over India, picking up five wickets, and is expected to keep Hazlewood out of the team.

Hazlewood admitted he's had to shift his expectations on just how many Tests he'll be able to play in this year's Ashes series.

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"If we go back a few years, I would have said all six (Tests), but I guess it's a little bit different now, based on the last two years of history," he said.

"I think three (this tour) would be a nice pass (mark), and four is probably a tick. Any more than that is great. Any less then I am probably a little disappointed again.

Watch every ball of the Ashes series live and exclusive on Nine and 9Now.

Nathan Lyon of Australia congratulates teammate Scott Boland during the WTC final.

"But I think when you do have that depth, for each game you really go as hard as you can and then reassess after the game. Because you always have someone of high quality sitting on the pine and ready to go next game. So it's a great position to be in for the team.

"Generally, you need that in big Ashes series and big summers. You need four or five quicks. We've seen in the last few summers, everyone's had a crack. Michael Neser has played, Jhye Richardson. The more depth we can have the better.

"I think having those options helps that (squad) mindset. No doubt you still want to play every game, and it's hard to sit on the sidelines and watch. No shying away from that."

Ahead of one of the most highly-anticipated Ashes series ever, here is everything you need to know.

Edgbaston has been a graveyard for Australia in recent years.

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE ASHES?

All Ashes matches are scheduled to begin at 8pm (AEST) daily throughout the series.

If all runs to plan, stumps will be at 3am or 3.30am.

First match: From June 16 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Second match: From June 28 at Lord's, London

Third match: From July 6 at Headingley, Leeds

Fourth match: From July 19 at Old Trafford, Manchester

Fifth match: From July 27 at The Oval, London

HOW CAN I WATCH THE ASHES?

Nine has the exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2023 Ashes series.

Every ball of every match will be broadcast live on Nine and 9Now, including commentary from former Test captain Mark Taylor.

Watch every ball of the Ashes series live and exclusive on Nine and 9Now

WHAT ARE THE AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND SQUADS?

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Moeen Ali

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Moeen Ali, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

England team first Test: 1. Ben Duckett 2. Zak Crawley 3. Ollie Pope 4. Joe Root 5. Harry Brook 6. Ben Stokes (c) 7. Jonathan Bairstow (wk) 8. Moeen Ali 9. Stuart Broad 10. Ollie Robinson 11. James Anderson

WHAT IS THE ASHES HISTORY?

While Australia and England first played Test cricket against one another in 1876, the Ashes was officially born after a match at The Oval in 1882 which the Aussies won, and an English newspaper jokingly declared cricket had "died" and its ashes would be taken Down Under.

The first Ashes series was played later that year in 1882-83, when England toured Australia for a three-Test series.

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England won that series 2-1.

In total there have been 340 Tests played between the two men's teams. Australia has won 140, England has won 108, and there have been 92 draws.

There have been 72 series played to date, and Australia holds the edge with 34 wins compared to England's 32.

There have been six drawn series, of which five have resulted in Australia retaining the urn.

WHAT ARE THE ASHES ODDS?

As of Wednesday afternoon, Sportsbet has listed Australia a $1.85 favourite to win the series.

England is listed as a $2.55 chance while a drawn series is paying $7.25.

WHO WON THE MOST RECENT ASHES SERIES?

Australia currently holds the Ashes urn after a comprehensive 4-0 series win at home in the summer of 2021-22.

England has not won a series since winning the 2015 series at home 3-2.

Australia has not won a series on English soil since 2001, when it prevailed a 4-1 winner, but did draw the 2019 series 2-2. 

HOW CAN AUSTRALIA KEEP THE ASHES?

Due to winning the most recent series, Australia will retain the Ashes urn even if it does not win this year's series.

This was the case when it last toured England in 2019 and drew the five-Test series 2-2.

England has not held the urn since 2015 and requires an outright series win to reclaim it.

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