The waiting is almost over with the first Ashes Test between Australia and England getting underway late on Wednesday evening in Brisbane.
The tourists go into the series with hopes high for a first success Down Under since 1986-87, with Andrew Strauss’ men having been in good form in recent times.
Their preparation in Australia could hardly have gone any better, as they have earned victories against Western Australia and Australia A and only been denied against South Australia due to rain.
WA were despatched by six wickets and, after the stalemate in Adelaide, Australia A were demolished by ten wickets in Hobart, with all of England top six amongst the runs.
Captain Strauss registered centuries in the first two games, while Paul Collingwood has twice got within touching distance of three figures.
Ian Bell made a superb 192 against Australia A in the final warm-up clash, ensuring that he will start the series in England’s first-choice eleven ahead of Eoin Morgan.
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England’s first-choice attack performed so well in the first two games that they headed to Brisbane to acclimatise rather than face Australia A, but the second string made light of their absence to impress in their own right.
That all adds up to a happy England camp, despite the customary Aussie verbal assaults which precede any Ashes series.
Life in the Baggy Greens camp does not seem quite so rosy, with several of the Australian top six under pressure for their places and Michael Clarke being troubled by a back problem.
Veteran skipper Ricky Ponting is under heavier pressure than ever before and realises that his reputation is on the line, having already lost twice to the dreaded Poms in the last five years.
He recently admitted: “Of course I’m worried about the legacy, because I want to leave a great legacy for Australian cricket.
“I’m really excited about what I think this group of players is capable of. If we play to our levels for five days, I think we’ll have the results go our way this time.”
Ponting will need to be close to his best for the home side to come out on top, with the Tasmanian being the one genuinely great batsman on show in the series.
He will also have to marshal a bowling attack which has been hit by injuries and loss of form recently.
Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger have all struggled for fitness in the past few months, while Mitchell Johnson’s radar has gone haywire.
The left-arm paceman struggled in England last year, but still ended up with 20 wickets in the series and, if he hits his straps, England will be in for a torrid time.
Spin options could also prove to be a decisive factor, as England are armed with the outstanding off-spinner Graeme Swann, while the hosts have axed Nathan Hauritz in favour of the untried Xavier Doherty.
All of this adds up to the impression that England are favourites, but the bookies still think that Australia will have the edge on home soil, where they have proved to be so dominant.
