Two days to go.
England's first Test in Australia starts on the morning of Friday.
With the help of cricket statistics experts, we look at where the highly awaited Ashes series in years could be decided.
It's tough to score runs, isn't it?
Batters on both teams of the Ashes divide might be questioning why they are bothering to turn up.
Much of the build-up has centred around the apparent challenge of batting successfully, particularly for the first Test on a Perth pitch described as a "green monster".
Regarding playing in Australian conditions, particularly against pace bowling, no nation has been more difficult in which to accumulate runs over the past five years.
Two key factors for this: wickets and cricket balls.
Overall, the pitches produced in Australia have recently proved to be the fastest, most bouncy and among the most inconsistent in the world.
Speed and inconsistent bounce are the perfect recipe for difficult batting conditions.
A long-standing narrative from England's cricketing circles paints the Kookaburra ball used in this country as a useless tool for a pace bowler.
A new version of the Kookaburra was introduced six years ago, resulting in more seam movement.
Seam is a much bigger weapon than swing in this country.
Since the new Kookaburra, pace bowlers are averaging 25 runs per wicket in Australia.
Test match cricket is about problem solving.
When the ball is on top, batsmen's contributions can be the deciding factor, and vice-versa.
Should this series be dominated by the ball, a batsman could have the opportunity to be the key factor between the two teams.
What's going on with the Australia seamers?
On this occasion, England have toured Australia with their fast-bowling unit mostly fit, while the hosts are the ones hit by injuries.
Captain Pat Cummins will miss at least the first Test with a back injury, and Josh Hazlewood is unavailable for an unspecified time because of a hamstring problem.
Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were first united as a trio for the 2017-18 Ashes.
From that point, they have taken together 81% of the dismissals taken by Australian fast bowlers in home Tests.
Australia have rarely had to look elsewhere because of the success and robustness of the 'leading trio'.
When Australia have required support, Scott Boland has been outstanding, taking 62 dismissals in 14 matches at an average under 17.
Aside from Scott Boland, other bowlers of Australia's supporting cast have performed well.
Neser, Richardson and James Pattinson all average under 30 in home Tests.
The last time Australia entered a home Test without both key bowlers, and were defeated, was in the year 2012.
On the last two occasions they have competed in Australia without the pair, they have won by a total of 694 runs, featuring a victory against England in the Adelaide Test four years ago.
On the rare occasions Australia have had to go past their superstar pacemen, results have remained strong – The tourists should pay attention.
Challenging Openings
Recall the time England struggled to identify an opening batsman to partner Alastair Cook?
Sir Chef changed partners faster than Watford change coaches.
No more.
Since Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were paired at the England opening slot at the close of 2022, no batting partnership in the world has scored more runs together.
Their success as a combination has been a factor in Zak Crawley being supported through some patchy form.
The Kent man, who famously struck the first ball of the last Ashes series for four, has also been identified as having the technique for Australian conditions.
His batting average rises when the pace increases.
In comparison, the Australian opening lineup is in a ongoing change, still seeking to fill the David Warner-shaped hole.
After Warner's departure at the beginning of 2024, Usman Khawaja has walked out with five various openers in 15 matches.
Yet to debut Jake Weatherald looks set to become the sixth in 16 Tests on the opening day, giving Australia an left-handed opening combo.
It's not only the openers that has posed issues for Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne, Australia's regular number three, was moved to open for the WTC final, then left out completely.
Domestic form has earned him a recall, probably returning to number three.
Across seven matches in the current year, the Australian top order have a combined average of 25.37.
Only the top threes of Zimbabwe and the West Indies have performed worse.
Spin war
Between two closely matched sides, there is one area where Australia are clearly stronger – spin bowling.
Australia's Nathan Lyon, all 562 Test wickets of him, is among the best finger-spinners to ever play.
Shoaib Bashir of England is a somewhat successful gamble, looking short of form after a finger injury, while Jacks is mainly a batsman.
It makes sense for the hosts to want Nathan Lyon at the front, but bowling spin has been extremely challenging in Australia for the last decade.
During that period, spinners have averaged nearly 44 in Australia, though Lyon's statistics holds up well compared to the difficulties of overseas spinners.
Lyon's other issue is actually bowling enough overs.
Recall the potency of pace bowling?
It limits the time Lyon has with ball in hand.
During the 2017-18 series here, Nathan Lyon was averaging 50 overs per Test.
In the previous year, in five matches against India, it was half that number.
Test matches in Australia are lasting about 25% less time since the updated ball was brought in, meaning Lyon has less space to influence the game.
Favorable Conditions?
The English team have a depressing habit of being defeated in an overseas Ashes before Santa Claus has loaded his sleigh.
Traditionally, the series traditionally started in the Gabba, where they have not won since the year 1986.
In recent times, that has been followed with a day-night Test in Adelaide Oval.
England have one win in seven day-night matches worldwide, while Australia have triumphed in 13 out of 14.
Then on to Perth, a venue England have played at on 14 occasions since 1970 and emerged victorious only one time, against a depleted Australia in 1978.
This time, the first three stops on the tour are the same, only in a rearranged order and under different circumstances.
The Perth Test hosts an Ashes opener for the first time, not at the fabled Waca – site of past English struggles – but the shiny new Perth Stadium.
It is still a tough assignment, though one the tourists tackle with no historical baggage.
The Gabba is the location for the second Test, the day-night fixture.
The most recent occasion Australia played a pink-ball Test at the Brisbane, they were stunned by the West Indies.
Likewise, the Aussies are now not used to playing day matches at the usual day-night venue Adelaide Oval.
In the two red-ball matches played in the Adelaide since 2014, Australia lost one, to India, in 2018.
The revised fixture list gives England a new opportunity at beginning an overseas series positively, though with risks.
The home side have won four out of five matches played at Perth Stadium, though the single loss came in the most recent match – against India last year.
Each match at the new venue has been claimed by the team batting first.
The English often overthink floodlit Tests, when data suggest the pink ball does not behave very differently from its traditional red ball.
The issue in {day-night matches|
