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Fourth test preview
Mike Selvey looks forward to the MCG: "England enter Melbourne cauldron with fingers burnt - Andrew Strauss is expected to lead the same damaged men into the fourth Test on Boxing Day in front of a record crowd."
Team news
"Bell likely to stay at No6, says Andrew Strauss," reports David Hopps.
"This is no time for panic. Strauss must stick to his guns," writes Duncan Fletcher.
The dangerman
"Australia bowlers hoping for Melbourne feeding frenzy," writes David Hopps.
Vic Marks on how to deal with Mike Hussey:
There is no magic elixir. Neither should there be any free runs in England's desperation to get rid of him. Once Hussey has survived that first 20 minutes, the age-old policy of aiming for the top of the off-stump should be followed. England should be prepared to test those formidable powers of concentration. And to remember that Hussey is mortal. He is not Sir Don bloody Bradman. Not quite, anyway.
MCG history
James Marsh at PavilionOpinions sends this: Last 25 years at MCG Eng p6 w2 d0 l4
Bruce Reid is leading ashes wicket-taker in this period with 17, then Warne on 16 (only two ashes tests there tho), then Goughie and MacGill on 14.
Guess who tops the bowling averages there for all bowlers in the last 25 years....Punter! (though has only bowled 4 overs...)
The Other Ashes
England bowler Isa Guha has this special preview of the forthcoming Women's matches in Australia:
Watching the men's Ashes, I'm excited as we look to take on Australia in our own series down under which comprises of three ODIs, five Twenty20s and an Ashes series.
I would personally love to play more Tests but can understand that, in order to build the profile of women's cricket, Twenty20 cricket is the future. This is highlighted by playing two T20s as curtain raiser's to the men's T20s at Adelaide and MCG. The last time we did that at the MCG we had a crowd of 30,000 which is more than we could have imagined. However, it didn't feel like much in a stadium that holds 100,000 so let's hope for more this time including a few Barmy army supporters?
Since a dip in form at the beginning of the year where we lost the series in India and were omitted from the World T20 semi-finals, we have been on a mission to get back to the top of the world starting with beating New Zealand this summer. We have all been training hard individually, with group sessions at Edgbaston and are fitter than ever before, thanks to wonderful support from the English Institute of Sport (EIS).
Our preparation has gone according to plan having just come back from a successful tour to Sri Lanka where new players in the squad; Fran Wilson, Lauren Griffiths, Susie Rowe and Beth McGregor were all given opportunities of which they took with ease. The more experienced players also contributed and I personally feel very confident having implemented everything that I had been working on in the nets.
I also couldn't agree more with Andy Bull: When a team is settled and comfortable in their own roles then players thrive. That's what the England men's team seem to have achieved and I believe our team is in a similar position. The squad is in a good place and has a similar feel to the buoyant World Cup camp at the moment and that is exactly what will be required to win a tough series against hard-nosed competitors.
Our last memories of playing in Australia were winning the World Cup in Sydney and the year before where we drew the ODI series and retained the Ashes. One regret is that we didn't win the series as we were in such a good position so we go back with that in mind.
Currently it's back to the cold and training indoors before we touchdown in Perth on New Year's Eve. These are the tours we train for and if we play with passion and pride just like the men then there are no limits to what we can achieve.
Santa!
It just had to be: see today's Sun.
So, congratulations Graem. (Although, there may be more Secret Santas yet)
Not the Ashes
Sky has sold the Wisden Cricketer magazine to a consortium led by Lord Marland, reports Cricinfo. The group, which owns the website Test Match Extra, also includes former Leicestershire chairman Neil Davidson, BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew, MCC president Christopher Martin-Jenkins and TV analyst Simon Hughes.
Now I am, and have been for more than 30 years, a Wisden mag subscriber, so good luck to the new owners, and I hope that they realise what pearls they have with the current editor John Stern and his team.
While on the subject, the current edition of the magazine features an article about England cricket supporters on tour, which includes quotes from and a picture of Ma B.
Ma B's Ashes
While on the subject, here is my Mum on who she's hanging out with in Melbourne:
Craig and Lisa (Cambridge graduates, Lisa rowed for Lightweight team) They have been sussing things out as they have been in Melbourne most of time since second test. They are staying at Miami Hotel which is a sort of semi-hostel - they have their own fridge!
Dave and Dom (it was Dave's Mum who got in touch) have got a nightmare - their hostel is having a major refit. They booked a twin room as a Christmas treat to themselves and were given bunks, have been given a bit of a refund.
Greenhouse, where I am staying, is a large high-powered concern, but still very friendly and staff extremely helpful. There is a large rooftop area. I've managed to get a bottom bunk.
I will be going to lessons and carols tonight at the Cathedral. It's just across the road.
Things to do in Melbourne
Here's some holiday advice for Ma B and other Poms in Melbourne from our travel time: Ashes fans' guide to hidden Melbourne
Ashes updates
All the latest Guardian news, views and comment on the Ashes 2010-11 can be found here.
Please comment and/or leave links to other interesting Ashes coverage below the line. Or email steve.busfield@guardian.co.uk.
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