An Ashes series full of unpredictability, exciting cricket and “cataclysmic collapses” awaits, according to BBC statistician Andy Zaltzman.

England go in search of their first win Down Under since the 2010-11 series, having drawn the last two home series.

Test Match Special contributor Zaltzman told the PA news agency: “It’s quite hard to predict. I veer between quite confident optimism and the innate pessimism of someone who grew up watching English cricket.

“What no one in this squad has ever done is win a Test in Australia . Between them they’ve had zero wins and 28 match losses – and that sounds ominous!

“But the Andrew Strauss team in 2010-11 had an almost identical record and they had a superb 3-1 victory. I don’t really believe in statistical precedent meaning a great dea

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