Fun in the sun

I can't remember ever being so confident before an away Ashes series

- Mark Ramprakash

It’s the Ashes in Australia and that is a series England have become used to losing, so much so that even Jimmy Anderson, the greatest English Test wicket-taker of all time, has the home side as favourites.

But if Australia have ever been there for the taking, it is now. Looking at how the two sides are shaping up before the opening game I feel punchy about England's chances: the team are strong, settled, and I think that if Ben Stokes plays all five Tests they will win the Ashes and win them comfortably. I can't remember ever being so confident before an away Ashes.

That confidence is based on a strong group of seamers and a top seven that have now played a lot of Test cricket and have a lot of runs under their belt. They will look at an opposition that will be without the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in Perth and fancy their chances of racking up runs. Once you do that, you're bossing the game.

Of course over the years England haven't won many times in Australia, so the data says they are up against it. But if you actually look at the two teams, the mentality and confidence that England have, and an opposition in transition, you see something different.

I can't remember seeing an Australia side in such disarray: it looks like a 31-year-old debutant will open the batting alongside a 38-year-old in decline; the absence of Cummins means they are without their hugely influential captain, an excellent bowler who can bat, a leader who sets the tone for the side; and now they have also lost Hazlewood, their Mr Consistent, who rarely leaks runs, who gives them control.