The Poms and the Baggy Greens are at it again in what promises to be a gripping six weeks in the cricket calendar.
The Ashes kicked off at Edgbaston yesterday with a true sense of anticipation.
Could England's new-found positive approach under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum be able to match the powerful Australians?
The memories of being outplayed in Australia 18 months ago have not been totally forgotten despite England's "Bazball" resurgence in the past year. Even McCullum admits the task is "formidable."
Nobody can be sure jut how the series will pan out, which is just the way it should be. Over the years in the 72 Ashes series, Australia hold the edge having won 34 times to England's 32, with six series drawn.
The "warm-up" matches for the two teams could not have been more different.
England enjoyed a comfortable win against an Ireland side still finding its feet in the Test arena.
Taking on Australia's fiery bowling attack will be a very different proposition for England's batters.
Australia on the other hand showed what they are capable of by dominating India in the final of the World Test Championship, winning by an emphatic 209 runs.
The whole team played well and importantly seem to have quickly adapted to conditions in England, something that has undermined them in the past. It is hard to find major weaknesses in the Australian set-up.
Leading the potent bowling attack is captain Pat Cummins who took three wickets to put India on the back foot in the first innings.
Scott Boland is capable of some explosive spells which the England batters will not be looking forward to.
The reliable Nathan Lyon took four wickets in India's second innings as a reminder he is still a spinner to be reckoned with.
Australia's batting line up is equally formidable with all of them capable of big scores.
Marnus Labuschagne is rated the best Test batter in the world and then you have the prolific Steve Smith who is a master of long innings and sometimes looks impossible to get out.
Add to that Travis Head who joined Smith in the century makers against India, firing a magnificent 163.
England received a blow when their long-time spinner, Jack Leach, was ruled out for the series.
Stepping into the breach is veteran Moeen Ali who actually retired from Test cricket two years ago.
However, he has played plenty of white ball cricket although that isn't the ideal preparation for the Ashes.
It is a gamble and underlines the dearth of quality spin bowlers in English cricket.
It is a brave decision by Ali who knows he could be on a hiding to nothing. There's nothing the Aussie batters enjoy more than whacking an England spinner over cow corner.
An added problem for England is the uncertainty of whether Stokes will be fit enough to bowl.
Without his contributions with the ball the England bowling attack can look unbalanced. However, England fans will be hoping veteran quicks Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will be able to make inroads into the Australian batting.
England's batting has been a revelation in the past year but facing Australia will be a different cup of tea.
It will be crucial that the talented Harry Brooke and Ben Duckett rise to the occasion.
Stokes has vowed England will play "without fear" and that whatever happens "the most important thing is that you will be entertained."
Most cricket fans will settle for that.