Stephan Shemilt answers your Ashes questions

Before the second Ashes Test in Brisbane our chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt hosted a Reddit AMA. Here is a selection of your questions and his answers...

What do you think of England's preparation for the Ashes? Were England better off training at the Gabba than sending players to the Lions match in Canberra?

I'm not too sure they could have done much more. The schedule before the series didn't allow time for more warm-up matches and a lot of the players were in New Zealand for white-ball cricket anyway.

The conditions at Lilac Hill were nothing like Perth Stadium, but that is beyond England's control. With the Canberra decision, that looks like the right one given the conditions in Brisbane. It is rocket hot here, and the Lions were shivering under blankets in Canberra on Sunday night.

It's a problem that can only be fixed by genuine collaboration between boards. Rather than England and Australia trying to hinder one another's preparations, they should come together to agree they will lay on the best possible conditions and opposition in the build-up to Ashes series.

Statistically, England are going to lose the pink-ball Test. How can I even get myself to stay up for the third Test at 2-0 down? What do you enjoy the most when down under?

Don't write England off this week. They have got a chance to level this series. Even if they don't, is there not something magical about following the cricket late at night over the Christmas period? Follow the darts, then switch to the cricket. That would be my advice.

Australia is a fantastic country. I first came here to do some cricket coaching in 2006-07 and have loved it ever since. The best thing? The outdoor lifestyle. And the coffee.

If you had to put money on it what do you think the result of the Brisbane Test will be?

I think England will win. I'm not 100% sure why I think this, other than I've been really impressed by their attitude since they started training in Brisbane. All cricketing logic says Australia should win, but I fancy England.