'Hard to see England winning from here'

"A team who keep being hammered by the West Indies are not a team that will give the Aussies too many sleepless nights."
Geoffrey Boycott bases his early predictions on Australia's emphatic display in the Test series in South Africa, March 20

"On Sunday it will be exactly 100 days to go until the first Test against Australia, and the concept that England will regain the Ashes appears to be beyond rational hope."
Scyld Berry after West Indies won the third ODI in Barbados to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, March 28

"A fluent, confident, well-judged innings such as Bopara's in the first Test against West Indies gives real cause for optimism that he is the man for the [No. 3] position."
David Gower is impressed by Ravi Bopara's well-judged 143 at Lord's, May 10

"Hughes is enough to make a God-fearing Englishman think the world is against him. When Matthew Hayden quit, he created a small chasm at the top of Australia's order… But Hughes appears set to make Hayden look like an old frump. Where do they get them from?"
Lawrence Booth fears for England after watching Phillip Hughes score 195 out of 317 for Middlesex at The Oval, May 13

"England should know that [Mitchell] Johnson is a wolf in sheep's clothing, the likeliest Ashes-winner on either side."
Scyld Berry believes Australia's spearhead will lead his team's revival after an early World Twenty20 exit, June 13

"Australia's only specialist spinner, Hauritz is an offie who has had less impact over the past two weeks than England's women in the singles at Wimbledon."
Peter English underlines why Nathan Hauritz should not be playing in the first Test in Cardiff, July 6

"The performances of Strauss and the weather will have a major bearing on England's chances of hanging on in a Test [Cardiff] which has completely bolted away from them. The match has been a major embarrassment for England and raised questions about whether Strauss is a powerful enough personality to take his team with him."
Malcolm Conn believes the hosts are down and out going into the final day of the first Test, July 12

"The injury to Andrew Flintoff is not necessarily bad news for England… there is now a general realisation that the talismanic allrounder of four years ago is not as central to England's success as before."
Michael Atherton thinks England can do without Flintoff, who looks doubtful for the second Test at Lord's, July 14

"A fancy declaration [at Lord's] has unnecessarily jeopardised England's series. It could yet lead to a defeat that would knock the stuffing out of any team."
Vic Marks plays soothsayer on the fourth day at Lord's, July 19

"In Pietersen's absence England would be hard-pressed to hang on to their lead, never mind increase it."
Mike Selvey is worried about the England batsman's Achilles injury, soon after the second Test, July 22

"If there was any player on either side you would have backed to seize the moment, it's the one who's just bowed to the demands of his overworked body. Certainly there is no other candidate to take over Pietersen's role…"
Andrew Miller believes England's chances have been dealt a severe blow with Pietersen's absence, July 22

"My lovely home ground [Headingley] isn't quite the bowlers' paradise it used to be 10 years ago. This season the wicket has got flatter and flatter, and deader and deader, and claiming 20 wickets in Yorkshire's matches has become a real chore."
Matthew Hoggard talks about the challenges for the bowlers ahead of the fourth Test, August 5

"The 1-0 advantage established by England at Lord's looks all the more intimidating after the rain-affected draw at Edgbaston."
Alex Brown previews the fourth Test, August 6

"Australia have made a mockery of Andrew Strauss's men [at Headingley], who now need a miracle if they are to win back the Ashes."
Paul Hayward has reason to believe that England face a Herculean task, August 8

"The overall impression is that England are all too content to wallow in mediocrity."
Andrew Miller can see no hope after a dismal result for England in the fourth Test, August 9

"The batting may or may not be perked up by the inclusion of Jonathan Trott for the most high pressure Test debut of recent years, but England are already on course for one of their most miserable Ashes performances ever."
Lawrence Booth writes off the hosts ahead of the showdown at The Oval, August 18

"Throwing a new man into these rapids, whatever his current first-class average, still looks like folly."
Rob Steen has little faith in Jonathan Trott, England's newest inclusion for the final Test, August 19

"The hosts have lacked the focus needed to subdue a mighty foe. Andrew Strauss's side cannot be pictured lining up at Buckingham Palace or stopping the traffic at Trafalgar Square in a few days' time."
Peter Roebuck shares a similar opinion on the eve of the final Test, August 20

"The first thing England have to be positive with is their final XI. I am therefore dropping Stuart Broad - and it's tough on him because he was the pick of the bowlers in Leeds, having a plan which he stuck to - Graham Onions and Harmison - but this is a time for boldness."
Matthew Hayden provides the best selection for England, if they are to win the urn, August 20

"It's hard to see England winning from here [after day one at The Oval]. And if you find it too soon to make so gloomy a prediction, I have only one thing to say. Sorry."
Simon Barnes after England had been restricted to 305 for 7 on the first day of the Oval Test, August 21