Having won in 2009 England are the current holders, but have a much trickier prospect on the dry, hard pitches down under.
Consensus seems to be no likely winner can be predicted early on; England's pace attack are considered better than Australia's in general, but are more suited to swinging wickets and unproven with the kookaburra ball. Swann will need to be dominant to drive England's chances.
Out batsmen are still very inconsistent, but Australia are not without their own problems.
Ponting isn't quite the player he was, Clarke & Hussey are struggling in their careers right now and they're generally considered to be on the downward slide. Their bowlers are also uninspiring.
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But...personally I think they'll win the series. England are simply too average away from home and Australia know how to play attritional test cricket in their own back yard, regardless of their decline in recent years. I still believe they have a toughness England don't possess.
England certainly have a much better chance than 06/07, and it will be a closer series, but I'm going for 2-1 to the Aussies. Of course, I'd love England to prove me wrong.
