Yep it's 'Gabba Gabba do' hosting the first Test as Yogi Bear would have said, but seriously it will be interesting, brutal maybe, nail biting - but not comical.

The Gabba has more pace that any other Australian Test venue, and the bounce to go with it.

So it should suit Flintoff and Harmison, not sure about Hoggard - Anderson or Mahmood should get something out of this pitch.

For Australia Lee should get what Flintoff and Harmison gets, and will be bowling ar rookies, McGrath is tall, and if accutate be hard to get away.

Warne = well a leggie likes it hard and bouncy - he could be a handfull.

Players like Flintoff Ponting Hayden and Pietersen should get runs here, Botham did just that in the 80's.
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History is kind to both sides - England in 1986-87 were defending the Ashes like in 2006/7, but Australia have dominated sinse.

England should be (slight) favourites with Flintoff and Harmison if they bowl well, Lee should IMO have had back up.

Main danger to England IMO - Lee and Warne.
With England - anyones guess, should be Harmison and Flintoff.
Is the Gabba a terror?, will Cook Bell and Colly stand up to Lee and McGrath?, will Flintoff and Harmison rip through Australia's better batting line up?.

Or will it be a batters match, and end up in a draw?.

My cash is on the bowlers.

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Ern

First things first... the humidity is likely to be severe.... and the new ball should swing. Anderson and Hoggard should be penned in to take the new ball for England... and we'll get to see if any of the Aussie bowlers are as masterful of that fine craft (if Lee can get it together it could get interesting.. but that's a big "if").

In that same period any seamer who can land the ball on the seam and who can get their length right and offer no width will create huge pressure... and that SHOULD suit Flintoff, Harmison, McGrath and Clark... but not Lee or Anderson, neither of whom extract enough lift or offer sufficient control.

Sadly, after the first 30 overs... I don't see any of the above enjoying themselves: once the ball softens the bowlers WILL be on the defensive... and anything not right on the spot is likely to get the full treatment. I forsee Anderson and Lee becoming liabilities and a LOT of unrewarding slog for Flintoff, Harmison, McGrath and Clark... with both captains looking to their spinner for a stack of overs.

My one hope is that the pitch breaks up by day four: I think that's an essential part of getting a great Test at this venue... though if it looks likely... the team batting second had better start thinking "be prepared to play for a draw" before the start of play!

ps. Being prepared to play for a draw is obviously not the same as deciding to play for one: a side obviously hopes to knock over the opposition early on and then bat themselves into a dominant position... but losing the toss should mean attacking with an close eye on using up overs.

Rachel, I really do not see how you are coming to this conclusion.

Looking at the last 20 test matches played here, the first being the one England won in 1986 to the last one against the West Indies in 2005. There have been 5 draws and 15 games won, with the winning side being split 8 to 7 in batting first.

So why would a side batting second be thinking about getting a draw?

If the pitch doesn't look as if it will break up then it's no issue.... but several press reports have indicated that whilst the pitch might be a finger-spinners nightmare for the first 3-4 days... the final day might be a different proposition. If Panesar gets selected ahead of Giles then I think we can assume the England management expect this to be the case (that being the only scenario in which Panesar might offer more than Giles on this pitch).

Perhaps the talk of the pitch offering some bite on day 5 is just that: talk. Not tooooo long to find out now though :-)

England have not won a test at the gabba since 1986 and the last team to beat the Australians there is the West Indies in 1988, hopefully Australias good form continues today.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

True but 1986 and 2006 have one thing in common, England are defending the Ashes, like 1986 Australia have to try and win back the Ashes.

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Ern

Getting excited Ernest? couple of hours away.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Yes sure am, I hope it's a close series with 5 days cricket every match, 2 hours and 10 minutes until the toss.

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Ern

Are you able to watch it? I can't at the moment because of work.I have a stinking Englishman lying on my couch at home watching it. He was rubbing it in too.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

No tonight I will be listening to either TMS or 5 live, better than nothing.

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Ern