9 Jul 2015 | Cricket
For most businessmen in Wales, there is no question about which side they will be cheering for in next week's Investec Ashes. However, Adam Lawrence, Chief Executive of The Royal Mint based in Llantrisant South Wales, was born and raised in Melbourne and despite living in the UK since 2001, remains a staunch Australia fan.
When Adam and his sons arrive at The SSE SWALEC on the first day of the Test, Adam vociferously denies that there will be any sort of divided loyalties, insisting that even though he's been away from Australia for almost 15 years, he is Aussie through and through. This extends to his two sons who despite being raised on English soil, would be disowned if they ever dared to cross the divide and play cricket for England.
My sons were born in Australia but have been raised in Britain. In many ways they're like little Englishmen but when it comes to cricket, they're pure Australian!
For Australians, there is no other rivalry like this one. This is it. The banter between the fans is always brilliant. I play cricket with a lot of Englishmen and we're having a pre-Ashes BBQ this weekend to celebrate the series kicking off.
Since Adam arrived in the UK in 2001, Australia hasn't won an Ashes series on British soil.
This will be my second time watching the Ashes in Cardiff. Last time was hugely disappointing for me as an Australian fan, I watched my team dominate for the majority of the match and not win. My colleagues at The Royal Mint were quick to point out Australia's shortfalls and they haven't let me forget it.
That being said, I love watching cricket in Cardiff. The whole thing is a great experience from the walk to the stadium through the park to the banter with the fans.
Watching cricket in the UK is quite different to in Australia, the grounds here are more intimate - they really are cricket grounds whereas in Australia they tend to be huge stadiums, which makes them far less intimate. That being said, the MCG is my spiritual home, there is something wonderful about watching cricket with 70,000 other cricket fans.
However, despite being a fan of British cricket grounds, Adam isn't quite so convinced by the calibre of their cricket team.
I have been impressed with England over the course of the New Zealand series but I really think that Australia should win this time round. They have deeper quality in their team and a better bowling attack.
I'm particularly excited about seeing Mitchell Johnson bowl, although I doubt the wickets will be as fast and bouncy as in Australia, and hopefully watching Michael Clarke get a good few runs.
Either way, we're sure to have five great days in Cardiff and I can't wait.
For anyone who wants to see history being made, there are a limited number of tickets available for the fifth day of the Test on 12th July for £25 (which is fully refundable if no cricket is played).