So England's slightly camp gladiators are in Australia and not far off facing up against the Aussies. No-one's been predicting any whitewashes this time although I suspect McGrath is rocking away on a veranda in the outback somewhere shouting 5-0 at passing possums. England's A team warmed up by swatting aside various local opposition with Ian Bell taking a liking to the attack. In contrast, Australia have been reeling from one setback to another and now sit licking wounds in the mid-realms of the world rankings. England fans might even bother watching this time with that sort of optimism.
Personally, i'm a little concerned that the optimism has overly pushed out Australia's odds. The main reason - swinging conditions, or lack of. Anderson can swing at right angles in the right conditions but has often looked harmless against top class players and that pushes the reliance on Broad's temperament and Finn's accelerated maturity. You only need to look at how England got on with a similar team in South Africa running on to the plane with the draw in a swag bag after only one good match.
To make matters worse, Australian batsmen tend to like these conditions and may make a mockery of form. I reckon in 1 session the optimism of the price will have drained and we'll see a far shorter price on Australia (2.06). Draw could come in to it with England looking likely to struggle to take 20 wickets but I think Mitchell Johnson (3.65) will be instrumental in taking English wickets in spite of his reluctance to take the new ball.