The Ashes urn
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Hold on to your hats,
the Ashes roller coaster is about to begin.
But once England hit their straps, they can turn it into more of a cruise for them and their fans, taking in the sights of broken-hearted Aussies along the way.
Back-to-back Ashes series like this has never been done before so I think that makes it all the more special, and I for one am looking forward to it.
There has been some talk that back-to-back Ashes series being a bad thing, that it somehow devalues the concept of Ashes cricket. Do me a favour!
The people saying that must never have played in an Ashes series, because the first thing you want to do after playing against Australia, is play them again, especially if you’ve just won.
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And if you have been beaten, there is nothing you want to do more than play them again so you can win that urn back.
Ten Test matches against the old enemy in a row, lovely.
Ten chances to keep the Aussies down and in the dust. Bring it on.
And for those worried that a one-sided series might take the edge off things, don’t worry.
Australia will be trying to come at England just as hard when they are 1-0 down as when they are 4-0 down.
I haven’t seen anything to remotely make me feel as I though I need to change my initial prediction of a double 5-0.
There is simply no department in which I think Australia have got an edge over England.
Which Australian cricketer gets into a joint team between the two sides? Michael Clarke is the only one.
It is going to be like a Mini lining up in a drag race with a Ferrari five times. How is it going to win?
I cannot think of an Ashes series in which the better side has lost. Maybe over the course of a single match, but five matches? No way. The stronger team will prevail and that is why I am so confident. This is not bluster.
England have got every base covered and two or three guys waiting in the wings to step up if need be. For a long while now England’s bowlers have been their ace in the pack, and they should be the star turns again this summer.
Jimmy Anderson is a wonderful bowler and a man at the peak of his powers.
He will be itching to get going at Trent Bridge, a ground where he is almost guaranteed a hatful of wickets.
But I think Nottinghamshire pair Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad know a thing or two about bowling at their home ground too, and if the other pitches get much more of this sun on them, Swann will have a permanent grin on his face all summer.
What I would say is that Darren Lehmann is the best thing to have happened to Australian cricket recently.
They have gone for a coach who understands the game deeply, but perhaps more importantly understands the cogs of Australian cricket inside out and the players will respond to him.
He talks to players in a way they understand and having been at the sharp end himself out in the middle he can relate to what they are going through, but there is an important thing to remember.
Unless Lehmann is also Professor Albus Dumbledore in his spare time he cannot wave a magic wand and turn this Australian team into world beaters.
He cannot turn a 200 runs per series player into a 500 runs per series player overnight.
He cannot teach a batsman how to avoid nicking an Anderson outswinger, or a bowler how to sneak one through Jonathan Trott’s defence three times out of five, it just won’t happen.
Lehmann will get a bit more fight and grit perhaps from his players, but Ashes series are not won on fight and grit alone.
The series will be won by the better team, and on that score there is only one winner.
