~ The build-up to Ashes 2006 ~. Review on Ashes 2005

I know it's under the wrong header, but since the Ashes 2006 hasn't kicked off at the time of writing this review, I was compelled to post this under here. There has been a lot of hype about this series, and I mean a lot, and basically it had to be covered.

Duncan Fletcher wears the inscrutable face of a man who would never reveal a family secret. Yet deadpan Duncan yesterday let slip not one - but two - of the unsolved mysteries of the England team on their Ashes tour.

And his disclosures were great news for Geraint Jones and James Anderson but crushing news for Chris Read and Sajid Mahmood. Head coach Fletcher's leaks mean wicketkeeper Jones will reclaim his place from Read for the First Test against Australia on November 23.

And Lancashire seamer Anderson, after missing the entire international summer with back trouble, gets the nod ahead of his county team-mate Mahmood.

Assuming Paul Collingwood misses out among the batsmen, the only remainig dilemma is Ashley Giles or Monty Panesar to spin the ball in Brisbane.

Fletcher let slip after Englan endured another unproductive day in the field as New South Wales amassed 325-5 on the first day of their practice match, in which both teams are using squads of 14 players.

Phil Jaques scored his second ton in three days against the Pommie tourists and Test stars Simon Katich and Michael Clarke both made half-centuries.

Read replaced Jones for the final two Tests of the summer against Pakistan but endured a miserable tournament with bat and gloves in the recent Champions Trophy in India. He and quickie Liam Plunkett wre the two member sof the 16-man squad omitted here.

England's crushing 166-run defeat against the Prime Minister's XI on Friday served as a sharp wake-up call.

And with Engalnd's quickies being particularly wayward in the first half of yesterday, and Steve Harmison being a concern with just ten days to go, the success of this tour is in real jeopardy.

Harmison, the 6 ft 5in Geordie, did take England's first wicket, although Jacques and Katich made sure it wold be along day for England with a second - wicket stand of 155.

Regular Aussie Test openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden are both 35 and, if either fails in the Ashes series, Jacques will be breathing down their necks.

All this build-up does sure make up for one hell of a series. One will have to wait and see which way the wind blows.