England batsman Joe Root has responded to Australia batsman David Warner's accusations of racism, saying that anyone who knows him would agree that such allegations are 'ridiculous'.
England have named a strong 14-woman ODI squad for the Ashes against Australia, including potential Ashes debutant Rebecca Grundy and a return to action for Georgia Elwiss, who last played at the World Twenty20.
England fast bowler James Anderson says he'll be going into the Ashes with the intention of keeping his mouth shut, saying his days of sledging and 'banter' are behind him as the build-up heats up.
Trevor Bayliss has know Brad Haddin at the NSW Blues for years, and feels that when the veteran wicketkeeper retires, possibly after the Ashes, that he would do well to go into coaching instead of the media.
Andrew Strauss, the ECB director, has backed former team-mate Alastair Cook to continue his revival with the bat, and says the Essex man has the ability to play and captain more aggressively in the Ashes.
With the weather overhead moving more towards overcast than hot and dry, the head groundsman at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff feels that the pitch for the first Ashes Test will have some pace and bounce, but not much for the spinners.
Ahead of the upcoming Ashes, Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood is happy to be the team's 'consistent' bowler in their pace attack that includes two left-arm tearaways Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc.
Former England captain Andrew Strauss, now the director of the ECB, said on Thursday at a charity event for Help for Heroes that the constant 'war rhetoric' when referring to the Ashes blew the contest out of proportion.
Essex batsman Ryan ten Doeschate has leaped to the defence of Australia spinner Nathan Lyon, saying the Chelmsford wicket had nothing to offer the Aussie, and that while he went for runs, he didn't bowl badly.
Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has publicly appealed to ground curators around the UK not to prepare flat pitches for the Ashes, and to put some life in the decks even if it means giving the Aussies something to work with.
England coach Trevor Bayliss is confident that his new charges will be able to carry their form from the one-day format over into the Ashes Tests, and will 'fight fire with fire' come Cardiff.
While most neutrals and Australians, and even many English, consider Australia to be the favourites for the Ashes this year, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff feels his countrymen will win the little urn.
England fast bowler Steve Finn has not played a Test in two years, since the last Ashes in England, but says he never gave up hope of returning to the side, and worked hard to overcome his technical flaws.
Australia have lost fast bowler Ryan Harris to an injury-induced retirement, and will be gutted to be without him on English decks, where he had such a great impact last time they played in the UK.
Former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who is the third-highest Ashes wicket taker of all time, feels that if James Anderson doesn't fire over the next two months, England won't stand a chance.
Australia captain Michael Clarke has brushed off criticism of his spinners, especially Nathan Lyon, saying that tour matches on flat decks and small grounds are not a viable way to judge their Test potential.
Australia opener David Warner is in last-chance saloon when it comes to warning from the ICC, with one more on-field incident seeing him suspended, but he feels that the new rules are killing the fun for the fans.
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh arrived in England ahead of the Ashes with two First Class centuries to his name, but has added two more at the most crucial times, against Kent and now Essex in the tour matches.
Fast bowler Ryan Harris is set to miss out on selection for the first Ashes Test against England after he was left out of the final warm up match because of a sore knee.
Ahead of the Ashes series against Australia, England captain Alastair Cook is the latest player to talk about how both teams should play the five-match series in the right spirit after concerns that sledging between the sides could go over the top.
Former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson does not feel his countrymen will have a psychological edge over England in the upcoming Ashes series that starts next week.
Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie says England must not let Australia spinner Nathan Lyon settle into a spell of bowling and must look to attack him in the upcoming Ashes series.
