Heading into the fifth Ashes chapter within just six years, I have taken a look at six big talking points in question with only a few days left before the first ball in Cardiff.
1. The impact of England coach Trevor Bayliss
Bayliss is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced head and his guidance will be beneficial for the home side. In similar fashion to Darren Lehmann in 2013 for Australia, the incoming England coach and experienced Australian mentor has arrived on the scene with the series about to get underway.
Bayliss is tipped to have a profound impact on English cricket, and hopefully for them it is immediate. Can his inside information of many in the Australian squad, particularly those under his guidance in New South Wales, give England an edge?
2. Selection dilemma
While it appears more clear now that Ryan Harris may miss the first Test (eds note: Harris has announced his retirement) due to his constant knee troubles, there is still another important call to be made.
Shane Watson or Mitchell Marsh?
Watson looked reasonably solid in the tour games, and I still have my money on him to be picked. However, twin centuries from Marsh in the opening two warm-up matches have greatly pressed his claim, and he is every chance to be picked. It’s a tough one for the selectors.
3. The elusive win away from home
Despite going through a golden era of sustained success in the early/mid 2000s, Australia has not won an Ashes series in England since 2001. Now they enter as favourites. Can they break a 14-year hoodoo?
4. Will Steve Smith dominate or struggle at number three?
Both Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad have had their say about Smith’s suspect technique recently, and despite Smith plundering 353 runs from four digs in the West Indies, it does raise the question whether he will thrive in possibly the most important position in the side.
Smith is in excellent form, and possesses the attributes to lock down this position as his own. Will he sink or swim as a number three? Only time will tell.
5. Do England need a frontline spinner?
The home side have drafted 27-year-old uncapped leg-spinner Adil Rashid into their squad for the first Test. However, I suspect they will use Moeen Ali for spin and doubt the prospect of England playing both.
They have more or less adopted this approach since Swann’s departure and it appears alternatives like James Tredwell, Simon Kerrigan or even Monty Panesar aren’t up to the task. Can England afford to play without a specialist slow bowler?
6. The sledge pledge
Interestingly, a lot has been made of possible sledging between the sides with multiple commentators and players having their say on the trivial topic. Some players are advocating it, others like Jimmy Anderson would prefer a series without it. Will we see more or less sledging between the two sides?
There’s no doubt we will know the answers to these intriguing questions soon.
TedTurner
Guest
If he's good enough to take a quarter of the opposition wickets and knock 90 runs, that's good enough for most teams.
James
Guest
yeah there is so much difference between sledging and being a dick but alot of people dont seem to get the difference.
Death by Watson
Guest
Burning question. Pick a proven 33 yo loser who averages 34 after 65 tests and can no longer take wickets. Or pick a 23 to with huge potential with bat and ball who just hit two centuries. If this is a burning question then I suggest you rethink what excellence means and how important excellence is to teams who want to become number 1. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Don Freo
Guest
Frontline for an English team, maybe. But that's way down the back of the ranks in the international cricket community.
CT
Guest
CA will pick Watson for the first test. Even though his credentials over the past 12 months do not stack up for a test berth. Watson appears to "add balance to the side" with his diddly little seamers. Has taken a mind blowing 5 wickets in his two previous ashes. He will also get his usual 25-35 runs before throwing away his wicket. Watson does do something with the ball and is economic. Marsh is not as tidy. Forget that the younger man has just caressed two classy centuries in two tour games. Marsh also took four wickets in these games. Watson took one.Watson will get the nod because he is a member of the "old firm" that has failed in their two previous attempts to take the precious little urn home.
CT
Guest
Ryan. I think Bayliss will have a profound impact on the England side and the ashes in turn.He has been at the reins of NSW cricket on and off for a good while. The squad is stacked with Blues so Bayliss will be able to impart inside knowledge that will be invaluable to England. Steve Smith handled first drop with aplomb in the world cup with no fewer than 393 runs from his five games. He fell one short of an imperious double ton in his second only test at #3 in the Caribbean series. This bloke seems to be able to cope with whatever new challenge he has to face. Batting well in English conditions is yet another challenge this batting phenomenon will meet with relish. Winning the ashes away from home continues to be a grindstone around our neck. There must be a mental barrier there. I believe, even without Rhino the lionheart, we now have the pace attack to wreck England and wrest the tiny urn from their grasp after14 years. Continue the chat as long as it does not go below the belt. Trying to mentally disintegrate your opponent is an integral part of cricket.
ColinP
Guest
Moeen is a frontline spinner, he has taken more wickets at a better average than rashid and the other candidates since 2012. He is fortunately for us also a front line batsmen (who admittedly lacks a brain sometimes, but crazy skills when your batting him at 8)