Mitchell Johnson

Whether it is true or not that Michael Clarke made a last-minute decision to call 'heads' at Lord's, the early signs in this series are that the toss of the coin will be vital

Even if Mitchell Johnson's fiery burst at England on day two at Lord's drew comparisons with his series-defining spell on the corresponding day at Brisbane in 2013, the bowler himself felt it was just another day at the office

Brad Haddin's record in all matches against England is phenomenal, not least during the most recent Ashes. Walking out without him will be a very different experience for the Australians

Seven wickets on the first day, having lost the toss, was far from awful for Australia but they will know their bowling attack did not work as a unit which showed the value of one missing man

Five members of the current Australia squad were present when James Anderson and Monty Panesar defied them six years ago and it was an outcome that set the tone for more than just one series

For the first time in Ashes history, the overseas team hasn't won a single Test in two successive Ashes series of five or more Tests. Can Australia break that sequence?

ESPNcricinfo previews the opening Test of the Investec Ashes which takes place in Cardiff, the scene of a dramatic outcome in 2009

Ben Stokes is aware that he carries a major responsibility as England's allrounder in the Ashes series and to no-one's surprise, it is a challenge he is looking straight in the eye

Mitchell Johnson has admitted that the death of Phillip Hughes in November 2014 had caused a mental block and a dip in pace.

Glenn McGrath believes Mitchell Johnson "has to play" the first Test of the Investec Ashes series and that he can "reopen the scars" he inflicted in England during the last series in Australia

At the age of 33, Johnson does not expect to be back for another Ashes campaign and, since being forced to miss last year's World Twenty20 with a toe injury, he has played every game as if it is his last

Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh will face-off once again for the allrounder's berth in Australia's final warm-up ahead of the first Investec Test against England in Cardiff

Despite England's recent surge, Australia will likely prevail in the Ashes thanks to their lethal pace attack, which is suited to all types of pitches

Even as England are tested by Australia's twin left-arm menaces, they must wonder why they can't regularly produce genuine pacemen themselves

Where Mitchell Johnson signalled his intent to again dent England neither Shane Watson nor Mitchell Marsh were able to push ahead as the allrounder most likely to take a pivotal place in Australia's first Test X

With no weak links in the four-man bowling unit that took on the West Indies, the availability of Ryan Harris for the Ashes will give the Australian selectors much to ponder

Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Marsh have been granted permission by their IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab to return home after Monday's match against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Spontaneous? Deliberate? Outrageous?  Mad? Glenn Maxwell does not care what you think, or what Mitchell Johnson bowls

Momentum has been lacking from Parthiv Patel's T20 game, but in Mohali, he was able to find it in style against the pace of Mitchell Johnson