AFTER all the flash backs to Beefy in 1981, Warne's ball of the century and Pietersen's knock at the Oval, all the television adverts with a backdrop of dramatic music and all the moaning about choice of venues, the Ashes finally gets under way at Cardiff tomorrow morning.

The hype has been unprecedented for this year's battle between England and the Aussies and that is only to be expected after the stunning 2005 series.

That five-match ding-dong grabbed the attention of much of the nation, and not just the sport-lovers, for the first time since Botham and Willis had been working their magic.

It was a freak of a series, rightly labelled as the greatest ever, and the return of the battle for the famous urn on British soil in 2009 simply cannot live up to such a standard.

It is unusual to get a Test match as tight as the finish at Edgbaston, where England sneaked home by two runs, yet the following game matched it with the last pair of Glenn McGrath, who averaged just over seven with the bat throughout his career, and Brett Lee seeing off 24 fiery balls to save the day.

Four years ago Michael Vaughan's England were in their pomp while the Australians were the best side in the world.

It is somewhat different this time round with both nations rebuilding after the retirements of a host of leading figures (and injuries taking a toll), but that is not to say that the 2009 series will be a flop and it is sure to show why the five-day format is superior to Twenty20 and one-dayers.

And for all the furore about Cardiff being given the opening Test, first impressions count in the Ashes.

Looking back at 2005 (and it is hard not to despite wanting to look forward) the tone for physical, aggressive, tense series was set in the first Test at Lord's.

The short balls rained down after the Australians batted first with Steve Harmison smashing Justin Langer on the elbow and cutting Ricky Ponting on the cheek – with not one English player going to check on the well-being of the visiting skipper.

That opening match was likened to a boxing bout with two heavyweights slugging it out from the first round Rocky-style.

The visitors may have left with a crushing victory thanks to the incredible bowling of McGrath but the public at the Swalec Stadium – to be deprived of the first part of its name courtesy of series sponsors and energy rivals npower – will be hoping for a repeat.

They will certainly hope for the tone to be set in a different manner to 2006 when Harmison's first delivery nearly took out first slip Andrew Flintoff, or 2002 when Nasser Hussain inserted the Aussies in Brisbane and watched them finish the day on 364 for two -with Simon Jones suffering horrendous ligament damage.

The Cardiff wicket may be one that suits spin rather than pace and steepling bounce but all 22 players will be looking to stamp their mark on the series, and the squads look evenly matched.

Aussie opener Phillip Hughes looked like a runs machine when he spent time getting used to English conditions at Middlesex earlier in the season – but it was in Division Two.

Question marks have been raised over his ability to cope with the short stuff courtesy of a bruising encounter with England Lions and Harmison last week.

But the visitors look very strong with Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey (who enjoys English conditions) at three, four and five.

Meanwhile, England look a tad brittle in the middle order with star man Pietersen sandwiched between the untested Ravi Bopara and Paul Collingwood, who always seems to be under pressure for his place.

Keepers Brad Haddin and Matt Prior are much of a muchness but it is hoped that the more varied England bowling attack will hold the key.

Graeme Swann is the spin option that the Aussies lack, and is a brash figure who could annoy them as much as he has irritated some former team mates, while Jimmy Anderson has become a top-notch leader of the attack backed up by Stuart Broad.

But, as ever, the series may been decided by the odd umpiring decision, a toss, the weather, or a rush of blood to the head. It is too tight to call who will be celebrating at the Oval at the end of August but for now it's all about who grasps their Cardiff opportunity.