Just seems like last week that England beat Aus 3-0 to lift the urn.

Who's interested in the down under version?

I personally prefer it due to the time zone difference meaning most games
start around 6pm EST. Perfect for an evening's viewing on a cold winter night.

Predictions? 2-2. England to retain Ashes.

The last Ashes series down there was brilliant. I especially like all the Barmy Army singing. "I'd shagged Kylie . . . "

3-1 England.

A wonderful rendition of the Australian national anthem to celebrate the upcoming Ashes series.

I fear a dastardly Oz plot to thwart England's basketball players, sorry, fast bowlers, by preparing pitches with all the pace of a rice pudding

2-1 England.

Mitchell Johnson in their squad. This will much more fun now.

Altogether now :

He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right...

I thought Bailey in the 12 was a rather predictable selection. Are 30 year old, inexperienced batsmen now de rigueur in Ashes line ups ?

Who would you have as the third English seamer?

That is indeed THE question. Of the 3 vying for the place, I'd go for Finn. He is more likely to take wickets, even if he does go for a few. Tremlett - past it (no idea why he's out there) Rankin - long shot, yet to impress on this tour.

Hope Bres recovers quickly - we might need him

Of course, I'd rather we'd taken Onions instead of Tremlett....but there you go.

Me too, reluctantly. All that messing about with his run up etc, he just needs to get a bit more discipline and he could be a good bowler. He needs sot stop messing about with his barnet and get a crew-cut as well. As you say Tremlett might be too old and not fit enough for a long campaign and the other one is Irish.

Finn. He's the best, should be a great bowler in Aussie conditions, tall and gets a bit of bounce. Can now hold up an end as a tailender too, unlike Rankin or probably Tremmers.

Agree that Bres would be a nice handy number 8 or 8 though.

never used to follow cricket always thought it was dull.

Then I went to Yorkshire Lancashire 20/20 and the atmosphere topped most football games I have been too.

will be following the ashes this year I am thoroughly converted!

Finn, or tremlett. Bresnam is only good enough if playing four seamers.

Tremlett - he has struggled to make the S****y first XI last season, never mind England. Fact is, Broad and Jimmy aside, the other Eng seamers (Tremmers/Bres/Finn) are not as good as they were 2010/1 when they last toured down under.

Yes he has had injury issues well spotted