1350 BST: Before boarding England's flight to Australia, spinner and prolific tweeter Graeme Swann revealed: "Looking forward to relaxing on the plane and explaining the storyline of Toy Story 3 to Bres [Tim Bresnan]". Paceman James Anderson adds: "We will be tweeting from Oz but with strict guidelines from the captain. I am delighted to be sitting next to Mr Strauss on the plane as it means I will be getting 24 hrs sleep."
Full story: Graeme Swann's Twitter feed
Full story: James Anderson's Twitter feed

1055 BST: All-rounder Tim Bresnan admits he will have to hit the ground running in the warm-up games if he is to force his way into England's Ashes XI.
Full story: North Yorkshire Gazette & Herald

0840 BST: Former Aussie wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist tells BBC Radio 5 live that the whole of Australia is looking forward to the Ashes series - and admits England will start as favourites.
Full story: BBC Sport

Clarke and Ponting invade London

Westminster Council has threatened legal action after images of Australia's Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke were projected on to London landmark Big Ben on Wednesday evening.Councillor Robert Davis said: "It's both inappropriate and insulting for this important location to be abused in this manner."
Full story: the Guardian

Legendary Aussie pace bowler Merv Hughes has lost his job as a national selector. With the recent addition of ex-Aussie skipper Greg Chappell to the panel, chaired by Andrew Hilditch, one of the existing panel - Hughes, David Boon or Jamie Cox - was in line to be dropped.
Full story: Cricket Australia media release

England's flight to Australia today will include 16 players, 16 support staff, 110-115 cricket bags and suitcases, two massage tables, four bags of fitness equipment, 10 bags of fielding equipment, two bowling machines and 32 laptops. Each player's kit bag will include a team suit, three polo shirts, eight cricket shirts and trousers, 10 pairs of socks and two thigh pads.
Full story: the Sun

When the final warm-up game takes place in Hobart, England's front-line bowlers are likely to be working with bowling coach David Saker in Brisbane, venue for the first Test, instead.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Six of the Daily Mail's seven-man Ashes panel are predicting England to win the series, odd man out Lawrence Booth predicting a draw.
Full story: Daily Mail

England batsman Kevin Pietersen says winning the Ashes in Australia would be the pinnacle of his cricketing career.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels off-spinner Graeme Swann will be England's main threat in the Ashes.
Full story: The Australian

However, former England all-rounder Derek Pringle has listed Swann and batsman Kevin Pietersen as England's two key men.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

Aussie seamer Doug Bollinger will keep his mouth shut when bowling to Pietersen this winter. The left-armer, battling to prove his fitness before the first Test, says: "I think I might put him off his game by not saying anything and let his ego get him out."
Full story: Sydney Morning Herald

Meanwhile, former Australia skipper Steve Waugh is predicting a home series win, but has delivered a warning to some out-of-form Aussie players. (Australian Associated Press)

Young Australia spinners Steve Smith and Steven O'Keefe, both pushing for a place in the Ashes squad, have revealed their support for the proposed A$160m (£98m) revamp of Australian domestic Twenty20 cricket.
Full story: Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

Captain Ricky Ponting and a number of current Aussie players have taken part in a pre-series commercial, in which Ponting and Co take the field against schoolchildren.
Full story: the Sun

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