England v Australia - Series Preview

Season V of ATG cricket kicks off with perhaps the most anticipated series on the calendar - The Ashes - and not only is the famous urn at stake, but it promises to be an unofficial 'world championship' of sorts, with the two sides occupying the top two positions in the world rankings. England have yet to win the Ashes in two previous ATG contests against Australia, but they begin here as favourites, having gone undefeated in nine series since losing 3-0 to the Aussies in the very first ATG series of all.

Richie Benaud retains the captaincy of a 17 man touring party, and having tasted defeat in the recent clashes with South Africa and West Indies, the Australian squad has undergone some significant reconstructive surgery. Australia's most capped player, Greg Chappell, is dropped for the first time in his ATG career, and there is also no place for ATG cricket's leading wicket taker, Bill O'Reilly, despite the fact that 'Tiger' headed the bowling averages against West Indies. Recalls are handed to Bill Lawry, Keith Miller and Steve Waugh, whilst the trio of Warren Bardsley, Ashley Mallett and Terry Alderman are included in an Australian squad for the first time.

Benaud's appointment as skipper has not been without its detractors, and both he and the previous incumbent - one Donald George Bradman - will have a lot to prove on a tour that all Australians hope will mark a long awaited return to form for the baggy green.

Australia's Ashes Squad
R Benaud (c), AR Border (v/c), TM Alderman, W Bardsley, DG Bradman, AK Davidson, IA Healy, WA Johnston, WM Lawry, DK Lillee, RR Lindwall, AA Mallett, RW Marsh, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, SR Waugh, WM Woodfull.