5 things England needs to do to prepare for the Ashes

5. Old-fashioned grittiness needed:

While this is not quite something that England need to prepare for, it is definitely something that they can look to incorporate into their batting. They’ve got batsmen who need to re-adjust their game to Test mode, having just come off an ODI tournament.

The likes of Cook, Bell, Trott and Prior are expected to play a big role in this series, while the rookie batsman Joe Root has displayed shades of being able to tough it out in the middle for long periods. The much-awaited return of Kevin Pietersen will also be a huge factor in getting the old grittiness back in the side, and if they manage to do this consistently in addition to scoring tons of runs, England will be difficult to beat.

These are some important aspects that England needs to focus on while preparing for this all-important series. As long as they remember to enjoy their game and focus on playing good, smart cricket, they ought to be able to regain the urn. Game on!