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Just about time for the cricket after all the selection issues and trash talking by some players. Time to put it out on the field now thank goodness.
As always the first test will set the tone for the summer so both teams will be keen to start the series well.
Looking at both teams there seems to be some similarities apparent. England have two proven top class batsmen in Root and Cook, Australia have the same with Smith and Warner. The rest of both batting line ups are a little unpredictable and bowlers on each side would be aiming to expose the middle order by dismissing the experienced guys early. The bowling on each side looks very good on paper, although in Australia the combination of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon looks more potent than Anderson, Broad and Co who seem to do their best work in England. If Warner is unable to play in Brisbane though it will tip the scales in favour of England as he is one player who can take the game away from the opposition quickly. The other X factor in the series is Ben Stokes who could make a huge difference if he is introduced into the series at the WACA, particularly if England are level or only 1-0 down by test 3.
Depending on the quality of the pitches prepared I think there is a good chance of a result in every test because the bowling is of such good quality and both teams batting is mediocre at best.
It will be a close series, no 5-0 to the Aussies this time!

IMO it's devastating not to have the best players available. Ben Stokes playing wins it for the Poms.We win if he's not available.

Stokes definitely is a fiery talented customer, an integral part of Eng test team of late.....one would like to think if youngsters in Short and Sangha can make runs v Eng test attsck then the likes of Smith, Warner & Kawhaja will as well......doesn't work out like that sometimes tho!

As for the bowling, be great if Starc repeated Johnson's performance of last time.....with Cummins and Hazelwood providing that Ryan Harris back up.....

The selection of Tim Paine will see the pendulum as a great selection or a dickhead pick. Also Warner has been baiting the Poms & now is rumoured to be injured. He now has his excuse if he flops. The bowling looks great but the batting is a bandaid solution.. Stokes could be here for the second test.

Stokes will be out soon and he will swing the series the Poms way unfortunately.
England to win the series and retain the Ashes 3-1.

Beasley Hutton wrote: Stokes will be out soon and he will swing the series the Poms way unfortunately.
England to win the series and retain the Ashes 3-1.

BH 3 bloke's where kicking a drunk man on the ground.Stokes just evened up the odds a bit.Punched all 3 of them ,nothing less then they deserved.

Only way Eng will win 3-1 is if Cook and Root have standout series....Stokes is good, but is he that good?....

Yes I would be more inclined to say the Aussies will win 2- 1 or 3-2. Home ground advantage will be huge. It would be a different story in England where Anderson, Broad and co would be able to exploit our shaky batting line up on pitches that suit them.

Aussies at a cantar - the ashes are coming home.

Uh oh! Apparently Sean Marsh has pulled up with a sore back after training and is now in some doubt for the test. Maxwell is on standby for him and also Warner who appears confident of playing. We will find out at the toss I suppose.