THE ADVER asked some of local cricket’s leading lights to have their say on the 2013/14 winter Ashes series. Here is what they came up with...

Paul Rowley, Lechlade chairman: “I’m going 3-1 to the pugnacious Poms. I’m expecting a hard-fought contest but class will out.”

Brad Dawson, Goatacre captain: “I think it’s going to be much tougher. The series just gone was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests but I fancy England taking it 2-1. I hope Carberry gets his chance that he deserves. Australia will put up a tougher fight.”

Marc Williamson, Swindon batsman: “It’ll be 2-2. Despite England possessing the superior squad, I can see a spirited performance by the Australians and I predict Michael Clarke to out-think Alastair Cook.”

Ed Wilkins, Goatacre batsman: “I’m going for a 2-1 England win, with a final Test victory deciding it. It’ll be a tough series with lots of talking points but Kevin Pietersen will show his class and score a couple of big hundreds at crucial times.”

Jon Sore, Swindon & Wiltshire academy batsman: “It will be a closer contest than in England, with Australia having home advantage. The Aussies have gone down the route of mind games but I don’t believe England will let it affect them. It’ll be a good series and who knows, 25 days is a lot of cricket, but I’m sticking with 3-1 England.”

Luke Sellers, Lechlade coach: “England’s batsmen underperformed last summer and, provided they regain their form this winter, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble beating an average Aussie team who still look no nearer to solving their own batting problems. 3-1.”

Elliot Hill, Purton captain: “We’ll probably lose the first Test, as we always do, and then have the series wrapped up by the time I return to the country on the 28th after the Melbourne Test. It’ll be 2-1.”

Liam Tucker, Swindon captain: “My heart says 5-0 England, my head thinks it’s going to be extremely tight - 2-1 to England.”