The most eagerly awaited Ashes series of recent times finally gets under way at Lord's here on Thursday with both sides upbeat about their chances. And while the confidence of Australia, the world's number one Test team and Ashes winners for the past eight series is entirely understandable, England's hopes are based on something other than blind faith.
Now ranked number two in the world, Michael Vaughan's men have won their past five series and, during the recent one-day encounters, showed they could beat Australia and, just as importantly, not be over-awed by them.
For the first time in 20 years, England in the likes of spearhead quick Stephen Harmison, all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones do have an attack that can match the firepower of Australia.
But while the likes of the supremely accurate Glenn McGrath, just one wicket away from his 500th in Tests and Jason Gillespie are the wrong side of 30 the pair remain proven pressure bowlers.
And in Brett Lee, Australia have a man who has broken the 100mph barrier.
Ultimately though accuracy as much as raw speed will be vital and even if England achieve pace parity they will still have much to do if they are to win their first Ashes series for 18 years and beat Australia at Lord's for the first time in a Test since 1934.
Australia, in leg-spinner Shane Warne and wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist have two of the most influential cricketers in history.
Warne, on his fourth tour of England, needs only 11 more wickets to become the first player to take 100 Test wickets in an overseas country.
With the series starting deep into the English season and pitches at their driest, conditions are set to be in Warne's favour as he bids to maintain a hold on England first established a decade ago.
Meanwhile Gilchrist, coming in at number seven, is perhaps the most dangerous counter-attacking batsman the game has seen, the left-hander's sheer speed of scoring meaning he can turn a match on its head in a session.
Gilchrist's batting illustrates another eternal cricket truth which is likely to come to the fore in this series, And that is why it is usually bowlers who win matches, it is batsmen who put them in a position to win.
Australia's top six contains several class performers - Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting to name but three - whose consistent, heavy and generally rapid rate of scoring has given their attack plenty of time to bowl opponents out twice.
By contrast, England's top order features several batsman who have yet to play a Test against Australia - Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Flintoff not to mention Australia-raised wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, batting at number seven.
Of course this means they are not burdened by the memory of past defeats. On the other hand, nothing in their previous experience is likely to have prepared them for facing Australia in Test conditions.
During the last Ashes series, in 2002-03, Vaughan had a superlative season in Australia, scoring three hundreds and may need to find similar form again.
But it is a sign of England's increasing assurance that even mild-mannered members of the side such as pace bowler Matthew Hoggard are bullish about their prospects.
"They're getting on a little bit - we've got back-to-back Test matches so it'll be interesting to see if they can put in the consistent performances for 25 days," said Hoggard of an ageing Australia side.
And he questioned in particular the stamina of the 35-year-old McGrath.
"It's going to be tough on the body, it'll be interesting to see if he is the world-class bowler he was."
And Hoggard said Warne increasingly well-known to England after his time as captain of Hampshire, had declined from his peak.
"He's getting on a bit as well and is not the force he was. He's having to come around the wicket instead of bowling over the wicket - I think that is more of a defensive ploy than an attacking ploy."
But Hayden for one has heard plenty of similar talk before and, tried to cut through the hype in the same way he bludgeons attacks.
"I don't really care whether England are closer to us or not - I really believe that it's all about us," he said.
"I don't mean this to sound arrogant, but if we're executing our skills I don't believe there's a side that can get close to us."
The odds still favour Australia, who wrapped up the last Ashes series in 11 days' time.
If England can keep the contest alive beyond that mark this time they may achieve something just as impressive as regaining the Ashes by keeping soccer off Britain's back pages even though the season will be underm way by then.
ENGLAND: Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (capt), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison A AUSTRALIA (probable): Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie/Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA), Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV umpire: Mark Benson (ENG)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).
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