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[Buzz]

The time for pontification is over. The series will start in just over 12 hours.

Come on England.

Predictions here please.

For me I am going for a draw in the first, weather effected, test. Ricky Ponting has scored massive hundreds in the last 2 ashes games here, so expect him to do well again. KP has done a lot of talking, but not much during the last few days, expect the big mostached Saffa to come to the party in a big way. Also look out for Ian Ronald Bell to score a glittering hundred which will be forgotten as soon as it is scored, because of the ease at which the runs came.

Bowling wise - Watch out for Mitchell Johnson to be one of the leading wicket takers whilst being smashed all around the park. 

[mdl_1979]

3-1 to England.  Australia to only win a match when it is a dead rubber.  Ponting to resign in a flood of tears.  Monty gets made an MBE on the back of a stunning run out as sub fielder in the third test.

[peplow]

First test draw - i too think johnson will get wickets whilst not being economical, another fail for kp and good 80 odd from trott being englands top score, bell will not get many if any in this test (but will do late rin series!) ton from ponting

england to win 2-1 in series!

[ProWannabe88]

First test: Ozzies to win toss, bat first.
Watson to score BIG!!
Substantial partnership with RP
KP to shut his critics up with a decent Knock but throw his wicket late on
Johnson to get smashed all over the park
Broad 5 for plenty
Rain affected match ending in a draw with England chasing a 450+ score

England to win series 2-1

[Jeet]

Good to Siddle replacing Bollinger. Bollinger vs PAK & IND was woeful. Additionally, Bollinger only came into the side because Siddle bust his back.

3-1 Australia. Adelaide will be a draw, graveyard for bowlers.

[Buzz]

Jeet - good to see someone challenge the inane (myself included) and very unusual English Optomism...

On paper, Aus should win, regardless of the current form/chaos in the Aus ranks...

[mattw]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11814630

[Canners]

2-1 England, I think we may come unstuck in this first test to a massive hundred from Ponting.... Trott to score 70 odd, Petierson will be caught on the boundary playing a reverse sweep 'blindfolded'

[Jeet]

Jeet - good to see someone challenge the inane (myself included) and very unusual English Optomism...

On paper, Aus should win, regardless of the current form/chaos in the Aus ranks...

It's the Johnson factor for me Buzz. Yes he was pretty mediocre in the Ashes 2009, but his record in Australia is wonderful. 84 wickets @ 25 is excellent and he loves the Kook ball

[gsports]

I'll be there tomorrow, as long as it doesn't rain and the first ball isn't collected by 2nd slip I'll be happy. The closest series in a long time, the weather isn't great up here at the min and there has been bowler friendly conditions all season. Be good to see how Anderson fares

[mattwhitfield17]

Are you in Brisbane mate? Much rain?

[patty93]

Draw, A win, A win, E win, Draw.
Look for Katich to be the series highest scorer. Siddle to take wickets when it counts. Kp to have one big score of 80 so. Matt prior to get a few good knocks but tail won't support.

[ianbuchanan]

England 2-1, just like the past 2 series that we won... Stauss top-scorer for England by a mile!

[Washington]

First test drawn and think will be a pretty sombre affair after all the fanfare of the last few weeks!

Series to be drawn 2 - 2 with England retaining the ashes!

Player of the series will be Broad for a load of wickets and valuable runs!

However, I hope im wrong and we win 5 - 0!!

[tim2000s]

I'm facing up to this with a little trepidation. I'm not used to this level of fanfare of the England squad going to Australia. It happened last time and we got hammered 5-0. I suspect it will be a much closer run thing than people are expecting, and never underestimating home advantage, I'd expect the Aussies to pull a massive performance out of the bag as they are after all playing the old enemy. I expect that Johnson will prove why he has such a reputation, which we didn't see in England, and the frailties of the middle order for England will once again expose themselves.

I can see a couple of Aussie players scoring big runs, Ponting and Clark most likely and I don't think we should be underestimating Watson at the top of the order.

The impressive bowling we've seen from Anderson will be hard pushed to show up due to the lack of swing in the Aussie environment and we'll need to be proven that the other english seam bowlers can manage on pitches that offer a lot less assistance  than the UK this summer!

At the end, I fully expect us to lose the Ashes back to the Aussies. Ponting doesn't want his glorious sotry to include "only captain to lose the Ashes to England three times"!

I'm betting on a 3-1 or a 2-1 to Australia.