text: who will win the 2006 ashes and why? who or what strategy will bring their country to glory? i think it will be a tough and gritty series for both teams. having said that, england will be suffering for the lack of simon jones and michael vaughan, who were both key players last time. also, the late loss of tresco will damage their chances. australia is a tough tour, and the hard pitches have a habit of taking their toll on visiting bowlers. harmison and flintoff are both recovering from injuries, but will need to bowl long spells which could take their toll. however, the england team are young and enthusiastic, which will give them plenty of determination. they also have plenty of talent in kp, flintoff, strauss etc. australia though, i feel, have just too much experience. yourself, and hayden, when you two get going build awesome platforms for the team to go onto big totals. punter is in the best form of his life and has scored 1483 runs at 78 including 8 tons since the ashes. if he gets going, we should be scoring 500+ scores. then hussey, well what a talent. marto has a doubt but with clarke and jacques both pressing for a spot the middle should fire more than last year. gilchrist doesn't even need a mention, except to say that englands strategy of bowling around the wicket and moving it away shouldn't work as well in oz as the extra bounce should give his the chance to cut and pull more often, which we all know he does with devestating effect. brett lee, mcgrath and warney will all fire up and do the job, and whoever gets the nod out of watson, clark, tait or johnson will be very keen to impress, and with the benefit of the extra bounce at home, the youngsters should bowl fast, and make life tough for england's inexperienced batsmen. i think it will be closer than a lot of people back home will be thinking. i think the home crowds, and the conditions will just be a little too much for such a young inexperienced england team. don't worry, there are plenty of aussies over here in london who will be sitting up late at night and cheering you boys along, and we are taking the stick from the poms for you, so get stuck in, good luck, and here's to a summer of runs for you boys. aus to win 2-1.