With some cricket series called The Ashes starting tomorrow, I got the views of two players with a keen interest in the action.

Great & Little Tew captain Anthony Smith, a proud Tasmanian, backed Australia to retain the Ashes, but Oxford skipper Jason Harrison thought differently.

Smith said: “I reckon it is going to be 2-1 to Australia, only because both teams are going to struggle to bowl each other out.

“Australia has probably got a little bit more depth in batting. It is going to be a tight series.”

Does Smith expect any stick from his teammates?

”It’s already started,” he said. “Bring it on.”

Harrison said: “I believe that England will win a tight series 2-1.

“I think Australia will win a Test, but their attack has not got the balance it had before, particularly with Brett Lee missing for at least one Test.

“Their spinner Nathan Hauritz will also be key. There’s question marks over his quality.”

Oxford-based OCA side Cairns Fudge will make their second appearance on Sky Sports ‘Club Life’ this summer during tomorrow’s lunch interval in the first Test at Cardiff.