What the papers say...

The most hyped Ashes series in memory will finally get under way at Sophia Gardens today and for England and Australia the moment cannot come soon enough.

Also: Disaffected Newcastle United players are threatening to demand transfers if the owner, Mike Ashley, does not sell the club or appoint Alan Shearer as manager within the next fortnight.

The Sun

England captain Andrew Strauss has urged his team to win back The Ashes - and 'urn' a pile of money for Help for Heroes.

The Times

Some people think that the greatest moments in sport are the noisiest. They are wrong.

Daily Star

Skipper Andrew Strauss has warned the Aussies: Our Freddie's coming to get you.

Also: Manchester City want Brazilian defender Lucio as a back-up plan if they fail to land John Terry.

Daily Express

Andrew Strauss steps out on to the Cardiff outfield this morning to toss the coin for the start of another Ashes series - a moment he thought would never happen.

Also: Jonny Wilkinson is on course to make a return to the England side in the autumn internationals following a 20-month absence - after being recalled to Martin Johnson's Elite Player Squad yesterday.

The Independent

At 11am today the talking will stop.

Daily Mail

Andrew Strauss looked ahead to today's momentous start to the Ashes and said victory in the biggest series of them all would 'live with me for ever'.

Daily Mirror

Andrew Strauss has been backed for Ashes glory by the only five England captains still alive who have lifted the urn. Also: Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny must prove there was no negligence or significant fault surrounding his drugs test to avoid a two-year ban.

Daily Telegraph

There is no doubting what an England victory would mean to captain Andrew Strauss in the Ashes series which begins in Cardiff today.

Also: Chelsea are increasingly confident that they have a serious chance of signing Franck Ribery.