Australia vs. England- 1st Ashes Test Preview

All eyes will be on the Gabba in Brisbane tomorrow morning for the latest chapter of the 133-year Australia-England battle of the Ashes.

For the past three decades it has been England who has had to agonise over issues such as injuries and form; however this time it seems that the hosts are the ones with their backs to the walls.

Australia starts the series on a three-game Test losing streak, the cricket powerhouse’s worst sequence of results since 1988, with a clearly unsettled squad.

England's tour has been nothing short of perfection thus far with a couple of warm-up wins, including a strong performance against Australia A.

Australia: 1 Simon Katich, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Xavier Doherty, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn.

On the injury front, Michael Clarke's back is the major concern for the hosts; however one must feel that with Ponting not considering him a risk that he will be in the starting XI.

Despite the above, England are still surprisingly the underdogs according to the bookmakers, with the host’s unrelenting form at the Brisbane fortress undoubtedly the reason behind that.

If the results at Brisbane this season are to be followed, this Test should not go the distance of five days. The square is soft from a recent heavy rain, however remains firm with a shade of green.

The pace attack will be licking their lips knowing that showers are forecast, and coupled with cloud cover, extra moisture, humidity and temperatures in the high 20’s, the crowds could be in for a riveting opening day, with pace and swing a-plenty.

Cue Australia’s devastating pace talisman Mitchell Johnson. If Australia are to bowl first on the opening morning Johnson will be using his bounce to upset England's top order.  The Gabba is not a spinner’s wicket, and the likes of Swann will be taking a back seat today.

On the English front, Stuart Broad is being hailed as the man to watch, being capable of bowling full to induce swing or changing his length to catch the batsman on the backfoot.

On the batting end, and for the first time ever, both captains head the list of most likely to top score.

Strauss has come into his own as a runmaker since taking over the reigns, while Ponting continues to climb the list of all time run scoring greats.

Kevin Pietersen, will be up against it in England’s first innings against young left arm debutant Xavier Doherty, however Pietersen loves a stage and there is no larger one than an Ashes opener.

Given the build-ups of the teams, coupled with the changes Australia has undergone, this is England's best chance for success on Aussie soil in a long time.

Prediction: England to win