The dust has only recently settled after we were celebrating a 3-0 Ashes series win back at the end of August, but that was then and this is now...we've entered Winter, and whilst back to back Ashes series may seem something of an overkill, my buzz is coming back and the 1st test in Brisbane is only 16 days away (21st November), so my anticipation of what's to come starts now (as well as preparing my sleeping pattern for the next 10 weeks or so!!!).
We've already had 1 warm up game, a drawn 3 day match against a Western Australian Chairman's XI in Perth and now we have a 4 day game (shown on Sky) against Australia 'A' in Hobart. Incidentally Australia weren't even in the country while the game was taking place, as they were completing a (losing) ODI tour of India (all be it not many of the expected Ashes squad were there).
There are still a couple of questions for England, who bats where and which of the tall quicks gets the nod, and the team selection for the Australia 'A' game may give its strongest indication yet: Carberry to Open, Root in the middle order at 5 or 6, Ballance gets another go after his 1st baller last week and Tremlett gets the nod ahead of Rankin & Finn. Ian Bell is rested.
The Aussies are yet to name their squad, but expect Mitchell Johnson to return after he bowled pretty well in the ODI series here and in India.
Series Predictions: Is it too early to make one? At present, I fancy England to retain The Ashes but I think the Aussies will run us very close. We won't see 'spinning' pitches that we saw here in the Summer to suit Swanny, I think they'll prepare hard, bouncy wickets for the likes of Johnson, Harris and others to hit the deck. I don't think it will be the same 3-1 scoreline as the 10/11 Ashes series, so I'm going to say 2-1 England.
Here's to a great series ahead, and I look forward to sharing many late nights with you all over the coming weeks! Hopefully it'll be more celebrations come the end of the Sydney test in January!!!
