Well I give no chance to English

lets see

Go with Shanvi Aussies will humiliate them.

Did U see the preliminary match and the horrible performance of England, due you still back them

Did U see the preliminary match and the horrible performance of England, due you still back them

I wouldn't take that first game as much of an indicator, since England have only won 2 out of 9 of those games since they started.

Personally I back Australia to regain the Ashes, their form of late has been outstanding (both test and one day), and despite having an old team, they still have that match winning factor about them. England, as good as they are, still struggled at home against Sri Lanka, and managed a credible draw away with Pakistan. Their team simply does not look like world beaters.

On the other hand, if they play as well as they can, and the Aussies play as poorly as they did in England last time, then the series is up for grabs.

There are several factors weighing in Australia's favour this time around:

1. Home ground advantage (speaks for itself really). In particular I think Hoggard will struggle, due to the lack of swing, and none of the English batsmen have batted in Australia but for the leadup matches.
2. All of Australia's bowlers are in form. Unlike last year when the selectors allowed Gillespie to get hopelessly out of form and still carry him into the first 3 tests, and had to use an underdone Kasprowizc (both of these are the fault of Cricket Australia), they are all ready to bowl. At least this time there can be no excuses, but for the quality of the English bats.
3. Shane Watson and Stuart MacGill. I don't think Watson will be a match winner in his own right, but he will allow Australia to play 3 seamers and 2 spinners in Sydney, which they haven't been able to do of late without sacrificing a batsman. Although MacGill wasn't picked for Brisbane, he will play in Sydney and probably also Adelaide. And if he plays Adelaide and cleans up, he will play Melbourne as well. The English don't play legspin well. It was a mystery why he didn't play at least 2 tests last series. Oh and some bloke named Warne. Apparently he can bowl a bit. And on Watson, if you check out his first class stats and compare them to Michael Clarke, you will see he merits inclusion on batting alone. Even better, compare his stats to Flintoff, you may be surprised.
4. The Australians want revenge. They were embarassed by their performances in England, and hurt by the criticism they received for it (most of it justified).
5. Most of the Australians are getting close to retirement, and will want to go out on a high (either by retiring, or by the realisation that the selectors will drop them at some point). With 2 and a half years to the next ashes series, half the team won't be around (Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist, McGrath), and this is their last chance to set things right.
6. The selectors won't be afraid to drop players should things go horribly wrong. In my view they were right to stick with Langer, but if fails in Brisbane and Adelaide, it is unlikely he will play at home in Perth (which might prove an interesting match for Jaques).

On the other hand, anything can happen (McGrath treading on the ball, anyone?), and the bats can all fail again. And weather can play its part, despite the drought currently afflicting Australia.

I'm interested to see what happens in Adelaide over the next 3 days, Tait will know a good performance will see him play in Brisbane, although it appears at the moment both Johnson and Clark are ahead of him for the only spot remaining.

As for England, their only doubt remains which spinner to play. If they have any sense Monty will have a run, rather than Giles.

Thats a nice article, I loved it.

With Tresco out I dont give them any chance at all