Ian Bell is likely to be out of the first test having been hit on the wrist by a delivery from James Anderson in nets this morning.

Thats now Trescothick and Bell out, so we will be going in wioht a new opening partnership, a debutant batsman, and a wicket keeper who can't catch.

FOr some reason I still think we'll give the Aussies a real run for their money. Their bowlers are mainly grandads and their batsmen are all "bunnies" of our bowlers.

johnnylad wrote:

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Ponting                                          All of them!

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I'm a bit worried about Ponting - I don't think we've taken Gary Pratt over to Oz as sub fielder....

johnnylad wrote:

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I think it all depends on how well England start. Ponting doesn't play as well when he's having to think about the captaincy. Hopefully we'll restrict him to one big innings in the series

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Bell should be fit enough to play.......and they must play Monty....playing Giles is like saying to the Aussies 'our top 6 batters are useless so we need giles to dig us out of a hole' !

Play the best / in-form spinner !

England could win this...love them to do it...but Aussie will win it 2-1 (2 draws)

can't deicde between 4-1 aussies or 5-0 aussies but went for 5-0.

Drew wrote:

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So many pesimists here....eng may loose but it wil be closep than folk think !

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i agree, i think England will up their level for the ashes matches, i mean hardly anyone really expected them to win last time did they?

I fully expected England to win. Everything was geared towards an England win. Everyone was so positive, England had played well for 2 years previously. I'm just not feeling it this time. 5-0 or 4-0 Aussies.

i think people are under-estimating the depths of the england's squad. theyve got young and up coming players who are willing to perform at the highest level. i think Cook might be the outstanding player along with Pietersen and Monty. Cook played really well against the Ozzies last year when he made a double century in a tour match.

its gonna be tough for both teams i think. its more of having the right mentality since they are playing 5 test matches in 2 months plus a heavy load of ODI matches to time to ready for World Cup. i think i would give england the edge and salvage a draw. The Aussies are still the same team as they were before, but havent got lot of young stars performing in the right direction. i think the aussies will be desperate to win but being desperate to win could mean the aussies are in for a backlash.

Verdict: Draw