Aussie squad looks........ something less than dangerous. Shame they've dropped Mitchell Johnson and it seems the future of Aussie wicketkeeping is a recall for 35-year old Brad Haddin. Always in the last place you look.

Shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves after the disappointing tour to New Zealand, but only a Glenn McGrath prediction of a 5-0 Ocker win will make me more confident.

A top order full of lefties who struggle to play the swinging ball.

A bowling attack of trundlers and lacking a decent spinner.

That said, England will have to play a lot better than some of the stuff they served up in New Zealand even to see this motley mob off.

England will perform better than the New Zealand tour but will need to be nowhere near their best to take this Ashes series!!! Very poor Australian outfit.

So that's Rankin playing for Essex now, and Compton for Worcestershire.

One more step along the road of the ECB allocating centrally contracted players to any county they like rather than the one they came from originally.

I actually think this series will be closer than many think, and I really hope England don't underestimate them. England have the stronger side on paper but I reckon Lehman will make a real difference to the Aussie mindset.

Smith at 6. A 13th post-Warne spinner who has only played 10 first-class matches. No Warner.
Really, if England don't do this, they all want sacking.

England have won the toss and have elected to bat through to the close on Friday

102/3 at the moment. Bell and Trott both need a big score here.

Trott gone. England in a spot of bother here. 124/4.

Nah. Could declare now and still win by an innings.
Anyway, the gingers to the rescue.