Cricket's greatest battle, the Ashes, is set to resume at 10pm New Zealand time. Most are predicting a comprehensive series victory for Australia but sports writer Adrian Seconi asks whether it will really be so one-sided.
Australia in a canter
Let's put it this way. Australia won the last series 5-0.
The ''closest'' it came to defeat was the 150-run win during the third test in Perth, so it is fair to say the tourists will start as firm favourites.
There is no Ryan Harris this time around.
The 35-year-old fast bowler retired less than week out from the Ashes after finally succumbing to a knee injury.
Harris will be missed but the two Mitchells - Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc - loom large.
Johnson was at his destructive best during the last series. He took 37 at an average of 13.97, while Starc stood out during the World Cup, which was dominated by batsmen.
Josh Hazelwood got smashed by Jesse Ryder recently but he has made a bright start to his test career with 24 wickets in five matches.
If there is a question mark, it hangs over the batting.
Take Steven Smith and David Warner out of the order and there is a fragility about the rest of the line-up.
Michael Clarke might disagree.
England more competitive
This series is being played in the United Kingdom, not Australia, and the Poms won it 3-0 the last time it was staged at home.
The captain, Alistair Cook, averaged nearly 80 during the recent two-match series against New Zealand and he looks to have rediscovered some of his best form.
How he bats will have a huge impact on the outcome of the series. When he is leaving the ball well, as he was against New Zealand, you just know he is going to be extremely difficult to pry out.
It is the rest of the top order that looks shaky. Gary Ballance had, well, no balance against New Zealand and was powerless against Trent Boult.
Ian Bell is short of runs and opener Adam Lyth is a rookie at test level.
But Joe Root is a class player at No5 and James Anderson and Stuart Broad, backed up by Ben Stokes and Mark Wood, will be threatening with the ball.
They will need some support in the slip cordon, though. England's slips were pathetic against New Zealand and will need to be better.
At Headingley, England dropped three catches in eight deliveries.
Mistakes like that against Australia will be punished.
