Even Ashes battle on the cards

When cricket lovers wake on Thursday, they will be consumed with excitement. A concoction of nerves, energy and enthusiasm overcome in readiness for the first day of the Australian Test summer. For Australian and English supporters, there is extra emotion attached for an Ashes series. With respect to World Cups, and high-profile Indian and South African series, the indefatigable Ashes is still cricket's most coveted and treasured prize. Excuse me for wallowing in hyperbole, but the Ashes battlefield is where successful figures and teams will be cherished and lorded for eternity. While, inept performances will be forever smeared with infamy. Thanks to the quirk in fixture, we're in the unusual situation of back-to-back Ashes series. Thus, the build-up to the Gabba has been rather subdued. So in desperation, the Australian mainstream media has been reduced to manufacturing headlines this week, notably with an unhealthy obsession on Kevin Pietersen's 'walking ego'. Unfortunately, his looming 100th Test milestone has been largely ignored. But the build-up has also been subdued due to the predictability of both line-ups entering the Gabba contest. With thunderstorms forecast throughout the Test, there is a strong possibility we won't be able to gauge the teams until the series shifts to Adelaide. EnglandWith Michael Carberry showcasing his talents during the warm-up matches, England's batting line-up seems settled and brimming with familiar faces. One of its youthful exteriors - Joe Root - will make way for Carberry at the top of the order and shuffle down to number six, a position that should reignite his attacking instincts, which appeared stymied at the top during the Ashes series in England. England will once again rely on experienced superstars - captain Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Pietersen and Ian Bell to score the bulk of their runs. After a prodigious Ashes series in England (562 runs), it's unlikely (though not impossible) Bell will replicate that golden output but fortunately for England, they can expect Cook and Trott to increase their production after morbid efforts in England. One can predict with confidence a return to form for Cook, because after all, not many great players at their peak fail during two consecutive series. Predicting the fate of Trott is more ambiguous. After being repeatedly hustled by Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris in England, it was hard to pinpoint the exact failings of a batsman normally so self-assured at the crease. Surprisingly, his game appeared mired with apathy. His footwork and technique seemed lethargic. That can be easily reversed but worryingly, at age 32, the important question probes - is it the start of a swift spiral for Trott? Trott's dilemma encapsulates England. Has this team reached their peak? Will the Australia tour start a nadir for England, who have enjoyed a period of fruition during the past five years? Star bowlers James Anderson and Graeme Swann, both aged in their early 30s, will be relied to provide the consistency, due to the erratic tendencies of the mercurial Stuart Broad and the potentially weak-link of England's third seamer. England is likely to give giant quick Chris Tremlett the nod for the opener ahead of Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin. Australian fans still have sleepless nights, after the nightmare imposed by Tremlett during his frightening assault during the last three Tests in 2010-11. Plagued by back injuries since, Tremlett has been a shadow of the beast who reduced Ricky Ponting to a jittering zombie last time in Australia. His capabilities to threaten with the short ball will test the fitness of Michael Clarke and the techniques of Steve Smith and George Bailey in the middle order. With Pietersen over nagging calf problems, England's injury concerns are focused on Matt Prior. Jonny Bairstow is the standby wicketkeeper and likely to play, as England would be folly to jeopardise Prior's availability for an arduous and condensed Test schedule. Probable XI: Cook, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Tremlett.AustraliaFor a team lurching in mediocrity and without a Test win since January, it feels odd that Australia's makeup has been a fait accompli. This has been due to injuries to a plethora of Australian pacemen, the rise of Bailey's currency after a scintillating period in coloured clothing and an in-form Dave Warner to start the Australian domestic calendar. Once again, Australian hopes largely rest with the erratic trio of Shane Watson, Warner and Mitchell Johnson. Johnson's intoxicating ODI exploits in England and India, combined with a sudden shortage of quicks, were enough to earn him another chance at redemption. Five years ago Johnson destroyed a strong South African batting line-up during consecutive Test series to emerge as arguably cricket's hottest commodity. He was a rarity - a strapping, left-armer who could scythe a batting line-up with 150 km/h + swingers and devastate with the bat in the lower-order. Back then, Johnson was about to become the best cricketer in the world, capable of piggybacking a mediocre Australian team back to the heady heights of yesteryear. Unfortunately, his mental fragilities were exposed during an abominable Ashes series in 2009, where he was unmercifully ridiculed by the Barmy Army. A spiral in confidence, nagging injuries and the rise of a wave of precocious quicks appeared to spell the end of Johnson's stuttering Test career. And now the 32-year-old is back. But is he really reformed? Or will the Barmy Army's mirth once again haunt? While the Australian team boasts talent, once again they seem reliant on hope more than substance. The reality is Johnson has only had one significant Test match - 2010 Ashes in Perth - during the past four years. Warner hasn't scored a Test ton in 12 months. While, Watson did score a brilliant century at three in his last Test that was his first century in more than three years. Plus, lingering doubts continue over Watson's ability to bowl at the Gabba, curtailing his all-round contribution. Bailey has dazzled in the shorter formats but has laboured in domestic cricket for an eternity. Critics, notably Ian Chappell, believe the short ball will be his scourge in Test cricket. Can the foursome collectively fire on cricket's most gruelling and pressured platform? In the classic film The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne memorably said: "hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things". Australian cricket fans sure hope Andy's words were prophetic.Probable XI: Warner, Rogers, Watson, Clarke, Smith, Bailey, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Harris, Lyon. Prediction: Draw Amazingly, Australia has not lost a Test at the Gabba since 1988. It is their fortress. Importantly, it demonstrates an innate ability for Australian teams to be ready and prepared for a series opening. They love to initiate a contest. Expect Australia to play hard-nosed cricket - the brand they thrive on. Conversely, England's experience should be able to counter Australia's aggression. Ultimately, Brisbane's notorious weather may ruin the festivities.