Staying up late? Early alarm? Resetting the body clock to Australian time for two months to make Christmas a nightmare but watching the Ashes easier?
There is nothing quite like an away Ashes series for England fans, who will often watch the first ball from behind the sofa before deciding how much more they can bear.
So can England Bazball their way to a first Ashes series win Down Under since 2010-11?
Our experts provide their predictions as well as unpopular opinions and sleep strategies…
Ben Stokes’ England are chasing a rare away Ashes win (Photo: Getty)Chris Stocks, cricket correspondent
Series prediction: 3-2 England
We cannot ignore England’s horrendous recent record Down Under. But the Bazballers were the better team in the 2023 home Ashes and have arguably strengthened with the additions of Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse since.
Australia are old, weakened by injuries and unsure of their best XI. Win in Perth and it’s game on for England.
England’s best player: Ben Stokes
If the captain remains fit throughout, there’s a high chance he will be at the top of both the batting and bowling charts for the series.
His bold leadership, too, will be absolutely key to English hopes of success. But it’s really his bowling, so important last summer against India, that could be the real difference-maker.
Australia’s best player: Mitchell Starc
Now 35, the left-arm quick looks like he has one last big series in him. The leading wicket-taker in the 2023 Ashes in England, Starc averages 24 in home Ashes Tests and is likely to be the biggest barrier to Stokes’ men winning. Of course, that’s only if he stays fit.
Mitchell Starc will likely be Australia’s biggest threat with the ball during this series (Photo: Getty)Unpopular opinion: Zak Crawley will be England’s best batter
A moments player whose inconsistency is maddening, this is the tour Crawley has been picked for all along.
The opener’s game is ideally suited to Australian conditions and he’s primed for a huge series where he could well end up overshadowing Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Duckett to be England’s leading runscorer.
Sleeping strategy
Thankfully, having the privilege of covering my fifth Ashes tour of Australia means that this won’t be an issue for me.
Yet given how tense and dramatic this series might be, there could still be some sleepless nights.
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Series prediction: 2-2 draw
Given Australia’s eminence is predicated on pace the loss of Josh Hazlewood as well as skipper Pat Cummins for at least the first Test gives England a shot at the series win. Mark Wood, Archer and Stokes must stay fit themselves, which is a big ask, so the tea leaves say 2-2.
England’s best player: Ben Stokes
Specifically with the ball if he stays fit. The skipper’s batting is more than capable but not as important or as reliable as his bowling. The problem is a tendency to over bowl himself, which increases the risk of injury. If Stokes falls apart so do England.
Australia’s best player: Nathan Lyon
Arguably the least celebrated of Australia’s great players, second only to Shane Warne among Antipodean twirlymen. Pace dominates the Australian psyche making this unheralded champion and his 110 Ashes wickets, already the seventh highest in Australian history, the more remarkable.
Unpopular opinion: Bazball overreach
The stubborn attachment to the idea of Shoaib Bashir as a Test spinner is a particular irritant, followed by the continued investment in Ollie Pope as a Test No 3. Jacob Bethell may or may not be the best thing since WG Grace but let the evidence speak it first.
Sleeping strategy
I’m an early riser, so I’ll pick up the last half-hour before tea in Perth, walk the dog then back for the last session.
Ben Stokes is crucial to England’s chances (Photo: Getty)James Gray, sports news editor
Series prediction: 3-1 Australia
It is so hard as an Englishman to be optimistic about the Ashes in Australia. That 2010-11 series feels like a lifetime ago, although this team are not far off it. They lack the depth in bowling though, and that will let them down over the series.
England’s best player: Ben Duckett
I know this will be a bit left-field but I am a sucker for a narrative: Perth was the place Duckett got sent home from an England Lions tour (he poured a drink over Jimmy Anderson’s head in a misguided attempt at humour) but I can imagine his cuts, pulls and fast eye providing him a Western Australian redemption.
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Australia’s best player: Steve Smith
He’s a run machine who has 12 hundreds against England and is averaging over 50 in Tests again this year.
Unpopular opinion: Neither side is that good
Australia are a historically old squad mostly in their mid-30s and England’s bowling attack would struggle to play a full game of chess without picking up an injury.
Sleeping strategy
My dog gets up early enough for at least two sessions so I’m hoping he gets into the cricket with me and does his bit on coffee rounds.
Kat Lucas, football news editor
Series prediction: 4-0 Australia
Aussie whitewash – 4-0 is a best-case scenario if one is drawn. Sorry.
England’s best player: Joe Root
His first century in Australia awaits. Root is so methodical that he knows exactly what his biggest weakness is on these wickets, with most of his dismissals coming when he nicks one behind. With no Cummins or Hazlewood, it could even come in the first Test…
Australia’s best player: Steve Smith
He will dig in to frustrate England’s seamers and go on to win Player of the Series. He won’t be looking forward to having Archer unleashed on him, mind.
Steve Smith loves the Ashes (Photo: Getty)My unpopular opinion: The spirit of cricket is dead
It was murdered by Alex Carey two years ago. No crying about Mankadings or unfair stumpings going forward – it’s the Ashes. I also think Will Jacks will surprise a few people, just like he did in Pakistan when he first broke through.
Sleeping strategy
Instead of lying awake filled with existential dread at the state of the country, I will now be watching the cricket.
Michael Hincks, sports writer
Series prediction: 2-2 draw
Three tours without a Test win Down Under and yet the hopeless optimist in me thinks England can win at least two. So ignoring the head screaming Australia 3-1 I’ll go 2-2 draw to make it three of the last four Ashes series ending all square.
England’s best player: Harry Brook
At odds with his soft dismissal in the warm-up against England Lions I am excited by the prospect of Brook’s first Ashes in Australia. At No 5 he will enter some make-or-break scenarios and if his aggression pays off it should put him front and centre.
Australia’s best player: Steve Smith
A boring pick, but he has far and away the best Ashes average among the current crop and no signs of slowing down at 36. In great nick for New South Wales recently too: gulp.
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Unpopular opinion: Crawley and Duckett will be fine
They will be just fine. Nothing to worry about there. Please.
Sleeping strategy
Following James’ (dog) lead I may yet get a puppy soon and won’t mind the sporadic overnight toilet breaks (for the dog, that is, although I am now in my mid-30s).
As can often be the case with these series though the process might turn into watching the first hour (or over), sighing, swearing, then discovering the true extent of the damage come the morning.
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