Ashes 2010 venue: Brisbane

First Test, Nov. 25-29

Ground: The Gabba (capacity 42,000)

Last England Test win: 1986-87 series

Many a confident England touring side have pitched up at the Gabba, named for the Woolloongabba suburb that surrounds it, only to come a cropper.

Steve Harmison's horrendous first-ball delivery to second slip set the tone for the 2006-07 whitewash and England will be determined to avoid a bad start this time.

A lively, green top wicket is expected at first, offering pace and bounce for the seamers, with spin coming into play as an attacking option if it stays dry and the strip deteriorates later in the match.