Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

So, after all the yadda, yadda, yadda - it's off to the Gabba, Gabba, Gabba and hey, there's not a Ramone in sight.

The phony war is behind us, let battle commence. Vulture Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, the 'Gabba' hosts the start of the Test series. Just over 40,000 will be slopping on factor fifty later tonight, opening a couple of tinnies and kicking back for the first session of the first test, those of us at home will be reaching for the coffee, digestives, cheesy footballs and anything else that will help us arrive in the office tomorrow wearing that 'I was up when Portilo lost' look - hopefully come the end of the series it'll be 'I was there when we retained the Ashes' look.

This is one of Shanie's favourite wickets but it's a quick and bouncy track and will offer the likes of Harmison and Anderson some encouragement. It's vital that Harmison has a good start with the ball, he was useless in India during the I.C.C and needs to find his range and direction early on.

I think we'll retain the Ashes by drawing the series. I watched some of the Australian Test Series at home last winter when they crushed the West Indies in Brisbane by 379 runs but I doubt that Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath can replicate what Lee and Nathan Bracken did against Lara's men. The crucial men are those in the supporting roles, Bell, Collingwood, Anderson, Mahmood - those who can step in when needed, as we've seen before on big occasions Pietersen, Strauss and Flintoff can look after themselves.

I'll be interested to see how Alastair Cook and Ed Joyce do, if picked, when they face Shane Warne on his own pitches, if they can conquer him I think both could have good series.