"GO YOU REDS"

Any early predictions? I can see it being a very close series - almost too hard to call. Winning the toss alone could prove huge.
3-2 Australia

England to win 3-2 if Stokes plays

England to lose 5-0 if he doesn't

Have you seen us play lately? I know we're at home but even a Stokes-less english side wouldn't (or shouldn't) get caned 5-0

Have you seen England play recently. Fragile top order, decent middle and lower order (weakened seriously without stokes) amd only really 2 and a bit bowlers. One of whom has never performed well on aussie wickets.

Looks like a middle ranked test nation v another middle ranked test nation based on current form, so still see it as being close.
I'll go for an upset loss at Gabba (has to happen eventually), wins in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne and a loss in the dead rubber in Sydney.

For once I thought cricket australia were being decent giving England a D/N 4 day game at Adelaide Oval. Then I realised that there's a "international rules" game on it the day before. Presumably that means the drop in pitch won't be used for the game then. Sneaky CA, SNEAKY.

and you won't lose in Brisbane, that's the reason you play the first test in Brisbane to catch visiting sides on the hop with that wicket.

Seems a pretty decent wicket usually to me. Has a bit of bounce early on, swing (especially on a typical Brisbane day) and reasonably kind to spin even on day 1 and 2. I think tourists have a mental problem with the wicket rather than what it actually comes up at. Like I said, winning the toss will be a decent advantage.

It's also the heat and humidity, can be a struggle for an English team coming out of winter. Gabba is lively and has a lot of bounce (as you've said) can take some getting used to if you're not used to aussie wickets.

England need to start playing the same games that CA do and not give touring sides any time in the middle at test venues. As I said, I'll be interested to see if it's the drop in pitch when we play in Adelaide and if so, how will a game of "aussie rules" affect it.

We'll struggle to take 20 wickets on any ground, a fit aussie bowling attack much less so. Aussies 3-1 sadly

Seems that between changing feet, Warner is at it again. Talking like the feral that he is.

Sticks and stones etc...

Is that a euphemism for bat and ball?

It's amusing me at the moment that all the aussies are talking about the abuse they're going to give. Minimal mentions of batting, bowling and fielding.

Actions speak louder than words

or as an aussie mate said - you always talk up the bits you're actually good at

Old Davey's not the sharpest tool in the colonial box methinks. That he is a tool though, there is no doubt. Just wish he would learn to "speak English"

And he's not the only one in the aussie "tool " box

Just hope you don't lose 5-0..........................again

Remind me again, who holds the ashes?

to be fair, the cons are pretty good with home advantage.

Nevertheless the pitches will be varied and give all types a decent chance at some point.

Pick your team for first test?:

My team I'd opt for:

Warner
Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
Stoinis
Nevill
Starc
Cummins
Hazelwood
Lyon

12th: Behrendorff

Only two (Warner and Smith) from of the top six left from the 2015 Ashes side.

Who are you supporting?

You've only named 9 australians in the starting XI, surely that's an error.

When does it start?

21 days

Finn and Ali injured and will miss opening tour match .

The sad part of the modern crowded cricket calender is the fact that touring sides get so few lead up matches prior to the first test. This issue is the same all over the world and with more and more 20/20 tournaments it won't change.

The lack of warm up games has been an issue for some time, well before 20/20