Everywhere you go, people are talking about the Ashes and I think we are in for something very special.

Public interest is always so high and all of the trailers on the TV and the radio have really built the anticipation. Given fair weather it should be a really good series.

I'll be getting ready in the same way as I would do for any other cricket commentary, but I must admit it is going to feel a little different going to Cardiff for the first Test

Lee: big miss for Aussies

As I've said all along, I just hope we don't get a chief executive's wicket. I want to see a proper cricket match on a proper cricket pitch and that the players are able to express themselves.

I want entertainment, and hopefully a winner - we don't want to see a five-day draw that has bored the arse off everybody.

The people in suits at Cardiff would love to see it go on for five days so that they get maximum revenue - but I want to see a game for the people, not the prawn sandwich brigade.

Predictions

Glenn McGrath has predicted a 5-0 win for Australia, but he'd probably say that if it was a three-match series!

Personally, I can't see Australia winning a game. I just don't think they're good enough to bowl England out.

There's a lack of balance in their side and without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne there's a lack of quality as well. Their bowlers will have to learn about Ashes cricket - and they will need to do so very quickly.

Peter Siddle is a good bowler, but Stuart Clark is well below his best and their best bowler, Brett Lee, is not playing. What else have they got?

Without Lee, Nathan Hauritz will probably come in and he's a better bowler than people give him credit for. England's tactic will be to clatter him, but I think he'll be better than a lot of people think - especially on a big ground.

Of course, he's not Shane Warne but it's a bit unfair to describe him as the worst spinner to appear in the Ashes. Don't dismiss Hauritz.

New territory

Of course, Michael Hussey will score runs and Ricky Ponting will score runs, but this Australia team are approaching new territory in an Ashes series. No longer can Ponting throw the ball to Warne and tell him to get somebody out. That's the key factor here.

I think that England have got the quality spin options and that will play a part when the games go into a fourth and fifth day. The bad weather of Monday and Tuesday may mean they don't play two spinners in Cardiff, but there's no doubt that Graeme Swann - and also Monty Panesar - will have a big role to play.

My prediction is a 2-0 series win to England. I don't think it can be 5-0, but I can see England winning at least two matches.

And if Cardiff plays as it traditionally does, then I can see no reason why England won't get off to a winning start.

Cricket changes

Cricket has changed so much in recent years. I was at the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final between Hampshire and Lancashire - a showpiece match - and yet the best players weren't playing.

Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson were not in the Lancashire side and Kevin Pietersen still hasn't played a single game for Hampshire all year.

It's a sign of the times - and shows once again that we play far too much domestic cricket. If we spread the matches out more then there would be ample time for somebody like Pietersen to play for Hampshire in the big games.

It's an absolute joke that they play 18 County Championship matches in a season as it is. The players need more time to practise and the domestic structure needs to be restructured so that the best players can play in the biggest games.

By the way, I wonder if Hampshire will play Pietersen in the final? Would it be fair to turn around to the kid who's got them there and tell him he can't play because Kevin's available? I'm not sure that would be on.

More nonsense

Another example of this came in the Worcester v Durham match. Worcester were without their three best players (Steven Davies, Vikram Solanki and Stephen Moore) because they were playing for England Lions while Durham were denied their best bowlers, Steve Harmison and Graham Onions.

Effectively that County Championship match was a second XI game because there isn't enough time to fit everything into the schedule.

You'd never see the England football team playing a match at the same time as Manchester United. The domestic game needs to be geared towards what is right for the spectators and the players, rather than the chief executives.

It's an absolute nonsense and I'd love to hear your thoughts on that issue.

Bumble answers your questions...

Send your questions to Bumble by filling in the feedback form below. Or you can mail them in by e-mailing skysportsclub@bskyb.com

GAME FOR A LAUGH
Bumble. I'd love to hear what you think is the funniest moment in Ashes history? For me it has to be Steve Harmison's opening ball in 2006! It really set the tone for the series. Rob.

BUMBLE SAYS: I'm not sure if that ball was funny or tragic. It was an unbelievable moment - and what struck me was that the game carried on as if nothing had happened! As for other funny moments, it seems many people found it quite funny when I got hit in the nether regions - but I can assure you it wasn't! I always found Merv Hughes great fun to watch in these matches too; he was a gentle giant who played the game with a snarl on his face - and he always had the crowd on his side.

BOOGIE NIGHTS
Just a note to say thanks for the mention on the TV Saturday morning David, every band needs a leg up sometimes... and we've been working so hard of late so it was a real boost to hear from so many different folks all over the UK that you gave us a mention during the live coverage. Thanks again, Cliff Dawe. (The Fabulous Boogie Boys - lead vocal)

BUMBLE SAYS: This band are out of this world. I saw them in a venue called Drummonds last week and I thought it was sensational. They were dressed outrageously in long red jackets and played fabulous boogie woogie. They raised the roof. I'll be back in Worcester in the not-too-distant future so I hope I'll be able to see them again.

Bumble's jukebox

Well done to those of you who correctly identified 'National Sh**e Day' by Half Man Half Biscuit last week. This week's track has partly been inspired by the fact I'm in Wales for the Ashes - but think carefully. I want the name of the song and the artist that originally took it into the charts (no cover versions).

Want some whiskey in your water? / Sugar in your tea? / What's all these crazy questions they're asking me? / This is the craziest party that could ever be. / Don't turn on the lights cause I don't wanna see.

I want the artist and track title - and not the recent cover version. The answer will be in my next blog.

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