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[Muffin]

Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, (vc) Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Would be good to know what people think our chances are based on this. Do you reckon they'll miss the dynamism of Maxwell? This Ahmed bloke seems to be on form unlike many of our twirlers.

[RichW]

I think if you pick the correct team you'll wipe us off the park.

You won't miss Maxwell he's far to hit and hope for long form and you already have players who can take the game away from us with the bat in an aggressive manner in Warner, Haddin and Watson.

Not to mention Smith and Clarke who can hardly said to slow scorers

[ProCricketer1982]

Another thrashing is on its way to team ECB, team ECB simply doesn't stack up against this squad.

[uknsaunders]

Harris is a walking injury and alot depends on him. Not convinced by Johnson recently and I doubt the decks will help him or Starc. Don't be surprised to see Watson and Siddle boring the pants off us with the ball. Battings ok but it's pretty much the same team that come last time. If England wasn't so rubbish, I would fancy our chances.

[Muffin]

As you say Rich I think they've got so much batting that they could of afforded maxwell. Their squad just seems to ooze consistency in a way that ours most definitely won't.

[eddiec]

Interested to see what they do with Watson. He seemed much happier batting down the order at the world cup, so I'd be tempted to try putting him in after Smith and Clarke. He's been pretty average for a no. 3 batsman for quite a while now. I'd agree that Johnson hasn't been at his best recently, but Starc is having a purple patch at the moment, so it's not looking like much of a let up for England.

[ProCricketer1982]

Harris is a walking injury and alot depends on him. Not convinced by Johnson recently and I doubt the decks will help him or Starc. Don't be surprised to see Watson and Siddle boring the pants off us with the ball. Battings ok but it's pretty much the same team that come last time. If England wasn't so rubbish, I would fancy our chances.

2013 team was a top team just in decline. The current mob are not atop team and have so many culnerabilities.

Cook - they know how to bowl at him.. Don't need Harris, starc etc for that.
Trott - not convincing anyone yet vs one of the poorest test teams (who are missing their best players)
Ballance - unproven
Bell - will need to be consistent and have a purple patch like 2013
Root- unconvincing so far vs aus but probably team ECB's best hope
Stokes - unproven
Buttler - unproven
Broad - far poorer than ever before
Anderson- should still do well as its in England but he's in decline (judt look how quickly Bowlers fall away)
Ali- really?? Woefully inadequate vs aus
Jordan- same as Ali

[Muffin]

Talk of Rashid and Wood from Durham, although I doubt that would give you any more reason for optimism  lol

[tim2000s]

Given what we've seen of English Cricket in the Caribbean, I have no idea why any Australian is worrying about how their side will fair in the Summer. I really don't expect the Ashes to return to English hands.

[uknsaunders]

You say England were a top team in decline but not sure many of the Aus team aren't heading that way. Clarke (dodgy back), Watson (crap and injury prone), Rodgers (bus pass), Haddin (bus pass), Siddle (not setting CC alight), Harris (injury, getting on), Johnson (getting on), isn't Vogues thirty odd?. Don't see many of these guys being around in a couple of years, or making it to next winter. Get set for a few post ashes retirements.

Both Marsh boys are unproven as is Ahmed. Lyon ordinary but does a job. Thankgod for Smith, Warner, Starc, Hazelwood!

If England had a decent team we would have a chance, but we don't.

[ProCricketer1982]

You say England were a top team in decline but not sure many of the Aus team aren't heading that way. Clarke (dodgy back), Watson (crap and injury prone), Rodgers (bus pass), Haddin (bus pass), Siddle (not setting CC alight), Harris (injury, getting on), Johnson (getting on), isn't Vogues thirty odd?. Don't see many of these guys being around in a couple of years, or making it to next winter. Get set for a few post ashes retirements.

Both Marsh boys are unproven as is Ahmed. Lyon ordinary but does a job. Thankgod for Smith, Warner, Starc, Hazelwood!

If England had a decent team we would have a chance, but we don't.

It's a last hurrah for a fair few of the Australians

[Buzz]

The Aussie team looks strong. Shame they aren't playing New Zealand while they are over here as this looks like a more even match up (you could argue that the Kiwi's are actually stronger )

If we sort out the opening positions - could even be Hales and Lyth the Eng team isn't terrible (Cook will play regardless, and is likely to quit/be sacked as skipper after the ashes)- the middle order has earned the right to first dibs (as much as I want to see KP back, you can't drop Ballance, Bell, Root). Moeen is an interesting case - personally I would persevere with him, but I have real concerns about both Root and Moeen against the short ball. Stokes has to play - his returns aren't great at the moment, but I believe worth the investment. Buttler is going to be a superstar. Anderson and Broad have done enough then we need another quick - that place is up for grabs...

[SOULMAN1012]

The only thing is a home ashes will give out boys an extra 10% you would hope. I wouldn't say we are going to get hammered unless Aus have all of there key players on form. Warner can score loads or get out easy, Clarke i jury could hamper him, Watson bowl straight and won't last long. Just need cook to be back to his best, root to continue his purple patch and personally stokes did well against Aus, Ballance in tests is scoring shed loads so who knows. That's me be patriotic and hopeful though

[jamielsn15]

I don't expect us to win the series but we will be competitive - far more so than in Australia last time out.  People want new players in, but the later its left, the more unproven they will be.

One things for sure, with every game the newer players are gaining experience.  A week's a long time in sport; we'll know more after the final test in the Caribbean and again after the NZ tests.  A lot for both sides will come down to form.  Provided England don't stitch players up (Morgan pre WC, Ballance during WC, Trott vs WI) and throw players into unfamiliar situations at little notice I think it will be tighter than many think.

I don't think Trott will open come the Ashes, but whoever opens with Cook, I see a settled middle order, an all rounder who will rise to the challenge of an Ashes series (he did last time), a spinning all rounder on home turf who's got decent figures against better players of spin than the Aussies and bowlers who are on home turf.  It will come down to form - consistent performances and moments or spells to change a game.  England have that throughout the side.  You can't just assume that the Aussies will turn up and fire - they haven't won in England since 2001 - and likewise assume that England will be shocking.

England are improving in tests - this series may be one too early, but my prediction is 2-1 Australia or 2-2.  I'd go with

Cook
Lyth (he needs to play the NZ at least)
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Ali
Buttler
Broad
Finn (on the proviso he plays all ODIs and the series against NZ - his strike rate in Tests is superb, but they seem terrified of him leaking runs.  Time to start fighting fire with fire and get him bowling quick and aggressive).
Anderson

[procricket]

England will beat both NZ and Australia and shut a few up !!!!

Australia top order have any of them scored heavily in England !!!!

Pitches to suit our attack return of form of Anderson and Broad

Adi i see you do your usual negative spin but down Australia side what they have done in England.

I do not fear New Zealand either who there world class top order when it swinging!!

But Boult is a fine bowler