Jonny Bairstow and Steven Finn are likely Ashes starters, if the bookmakers are to be believed.
Contenders
Other contenders are
Ben Stokes, whose all-rounder status could bring a different factor to the team, and
Michael Carberry. Both are offered at
3/1.
As for the bowling slot, Finn, who played in only one Test of the summer series, leads the race at present according to Sky Bet.
Like Bairstow, he's
8/15 to play in the first Test, with
Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin both priced up as 9/4 chances. Tim Bresnan, the third seamer for much of the summer, is injured.
Tremlett impressed on England's last tour of Australia, but has featured little for his country of late, while Rankin appears in favour with the selectors having played in limited-overs cricket at the back end of the season.
England could opt to play two spinners but with
Monty Panesar chalked up at 11/2, that would appear unlikely.
Prices are also available on players
not to play in the match.
Sky Bet trader Damon Blezard said: "We feel nine of the spots are nailed down, injury permitting.
"At six, Jonny Bairstow played most of the last series but could be vulnerable to new call-up Gary Ballance. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the warm-up games over the next month.
"In the bowling department competition is healthy with three tall pacemen all vying for one spot as far as we are concerned. Steven Finn seems most likely to play in Brisbane but either Rankin or Tremlett, who performed well in Australia last time England were there, could usurp him."
England play three warm-up games prior to next month's opening Test, the first of which is against Western Australia starting on October 31.
England are currently evens to win the
five-match series, with Australia 13/8 to avenge their 3-0 defeat of just a few months ago.
A drawn series, which would see England retain the Ashes, is a 9/2 shot with Sky Bet.
As for the
first Test, England are slight favourites at 11/8 at present. Australia are 7/4 shots, while the draw can be backed at 5/2.
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