This is the last edition of The Nightwatchmen before the Ashes begins, so it's time for some bold predictions.

Tom Barber

I'm tossing up between the two new leaders of the Australia side in Pat Cummins and Steve Smith but I'm going to with the latter.

I remember back to the last time England toured here and Smith won Player of the Series after scoring runs for fun. I can see the same thing happening again this series especially after being elevated back into a leadership role.

Last time he faced England in a test series, Smith scored some wonderful hundreds after being out of the game for 16 months and again went on to win Player of the Series.

The only man who trouble Smith during the most recent Ashes was Jofra Archer who will not be playing so I've got 'Smudge' leading the charge for the Aussies.

Nick Guthrie

I didn't want to be boring and pick the same player but I think I have to. How can you go past Steve Smith? Australia hasn't played a Test since January so he'll be starving for runs and, as we've seen many times, when Smith has extra motivation it's even more of a danger time for bowlers around the world.

There's nothing hugely scary about the English bowling attack so if Smith get going in the first Test next week, look out.

Barber

Pat Cummins is the perfect human being and I think he will take to captaincy like a duck to water.

Although many people believe a fast bowler cannot be captain, if it was there was going to be any current bowler to lead the country Cummins is that man.

He has only captained a handful of one-day matches for NSW in the past but I think he will rely on Steve Smith a lot with tactics especially if he is the middle of a spell.

I've also got Cummins as my leading wicket-taker for the series mainly because he will likely play every test match which probably won't be the same for Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood while Nathan Lyon will be coming up against two very fine players of spin in Joe Root and Ben Stokes.

READ ALSO:

- Mears proud of his own performance and that of Dubbo course

- Stanley quietly confident about his chances in feature sprint and cup

- 'Best centre in the game' Staggs warned against proposed halves switch

Guthrie

It's going to be a challenge, no doubt. But Pat Cummins has been mentioned as a future Australian captain for years now and those kind of comments aren't made for no reason.

Managing his own workload might be the toughest decision he has to make but he's been around the game long enough and is surrounded by enough experienced players and team staff to have a good grips on the tactics side of the game.

He'll definitely rely on newly-appointed vice-captain Smith and new wicketkeeper Alex Carey at times, but Cummins will prove to be the right man for the job and end the series by holding aloft the famed urn.

Barber

He has already been part of the Aussie test side but I think Cameron Green is in a for a big summer.

After debuting last summer, Green looked better and better each innings he played while not making a massive score the only red flag is the fact he didn't take a wicket.

I'm not too worried about his form with the ball either due to the fact he was coming off a back injury but now Green is at full health and could be vital to Australia's chance this summer.

Guthrie

Last Ashes series a fringe player by the name of Marnus Labuschagne took a chance with both hands and he's gone on to become one of the very best in the world in the time since. It might be a big ask for someone else to do the same but there's going to opportunities, especially for bowlers.

It's not going to be Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood locked in for each of the five Tests so that's why I'll pick Jhye Richardson. He's been in tremendous form and he's got the pace and ability to move the ball to bring the Poms undone.

Barber

I found this one tough as Joe Root and Ben Stokes are both world class so I've decided to go a bit left field and choose Jos Buttler.

Why Buttler you may ask? Well the former Sydney Thunder wicket-keeper batsman has excelled playing in Australia throughout the Big Bash League iterations.

I feel Buttler will like the quicker Australian wickets more than the English ones and the typically aggressive 'Pommy' will be looking to go after Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon to put some pressure back on the GOAT.

Guthrie

Joe Root. The English captain is a star. He averaged 94 in a recent series against India and he's the biggest obstacle Australia will have to get around with Ben Stokes coming into the series underdone.

Barber:

Series result: AUS 4-0. Most runs: Steve Smith. Most wickets: Pat Cummins

Guthrie

Series result: AUS 3-0. Most runs: Steve Smith. Most wickets: Nathan Lyon

While the Dubbo competitions will be welcomed back after plenty of washouts recently, the city is also hosting the Western Zone Colts carnival this weekend. Dubbo takes on Orange on Saturday at No. 2 while Bathurst will play the Chairman's XI at No. 3. Matches will also be played on Sunday and all will feature a huge amount of talent.

It should be a top weekend as almost the entire Dubbo team, to be led by Tom Coady, plays first grade here regularly here while the captain, Koda Sissian and Ant Atlee are among those who have experience playing in Sydney. Get down and have a look on the weekend if you can.

CYMS has started the RSL-Whitney Cup season well but we haven't really seen their fearsome batting lineup fully fire yet. With a Twenty20 on Friday night and a meeting with the unbeaten Colts on Saturday, it would be the perfect time to put it together.

CYMS has chased down two low-ish totals in victories so there hasn't been the need for a really huge score yet, but given the talent in the lineup we haven't seen the fireworks expected.

Tom Coady has impressed but Brock Larance has scores of 3, 30 and 34 to his name while Ben Patterson (pictured) has made 28, 10 and 4, and Thomas Nelson has only managed 0, 3 and 2. Those three will be keen to start stringing together some big scores.

No bowler in the top two grades has taken a five-wicket haul yet. There's only been one in the third grade competition as well. Yes, there's only been a few rounds played so far but considering the rain that's been on pitches in the last few weeks and the fact the pitches had plenty of preparation after little winter sport it is a but surprising.

There's already been seven centuries scored across the three grades this season so the bat is definitely getting the better of the ball early on.