Captain Cook vs Captain Clarke: who will win out?

Captain Cook. No, not the guy who discovered Australia, but the guy who many believe has a serious chance of going past Sachin Tendulkar’s Test runs record.

Can Michael Clarke figure out a way to stop this guy and his team from stopping what seems to be a one-sided series?

Who reading this article gives Australia any chance?

For it to happen, one or two of the young/inexperienced batsmen must make a name for themselves. Usman Khuwaja, Chris Rogers, Steve Smith, Ed Cowan, maybe even Warner can pull some punches on the field.

The weather has to favour Australia, even more so than it favoured England in 2005.

It seems that it will be a low-scoring series with conditions which heavily favour the bowlers.

Jackson Bird and Ryan Harris are the two names that seem well-liked and suited to do well in the Ashes. Can they be Australia’s hidden weapons? It is hard to say considering neither have bowled to English batsmen in an Ashes series.

The spinners, Lyon, Ahmed and Agar, can be considered as the dark horses. Are Australia going to attack Swann again and put him under the pump?

England haven’t won at Lords in nearly a century. Does this mean anything?

Matthew Wade/Brad Haddin face huge tests up against the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world, Matt Prior. Can they cement a spot and keep the haters quiet?

Mentally, how do they match-up? Does the Indian series have any effect? Can the Aussies go back to when they were one Test away from beating South Africa and draw inspiration from that performance?

This is Darren Lehman’s first Ashes series. What tricks can he pull out of his hat?

Captain Cook discovered Australia, now readers try and discover how Clarke can stop Cook, starting with Trent Bridge on July 10th.