SYDNEY, Nov 5 - Australia fast bowler Glenn
McGrath is feeling extremely confident about his team's chances
of regaining the Ashes.
McGrath believes the England side which arrived in
Australia on Sunday is weaker than the one which won back the
Ashes trophy last year for the first time since 1989, while the
hosts are looking stronger.
"England is a vastly different team heading into the Ashes
series to the one that beat us last year," McGrath told the
Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"Going into last year's series on home soil, England had
virtually the same team for 18 months and had built up a lot of
momentum and confidence.
"It took that into the series and managed to reclaim the
Ashes but a lot has changed in 15 months so much so that if the
English aren't on their game come the start of the first test,
we will hammer them."
England have under three weeks to prepare for the first
test in Brisbane starting on Nov. 23.
"England has experienced injuries to key players, while
some guys have struggled for form," McGrath said. "We have put
in plenty of hard work, won 11 of 12 tests, and built plenty of
momentum towards regaining the Ashes.
"We are ready to play well from day one and I'm not sure
you can say the same about England.
McGrath missed two tests in the last Ashes series after
suffering an ankle injury.
"Personally, it might be a bit much to say I owe Australia
the Ashes because I missed two tests but that's how I'm sort of
feeling," he said.
McGrath believes there are doubts over England captain
Andrew Flintoff and fast bowler Steve Harmison.
"Freddy is simply a class player but the question marks are
whether he can handle the captaincy along with being the main
strike bowler and key batsman in the middle order," McGrath
said.
"Harmison is a quality bowler whose big asset will be the
bounce and pace on our wickets but he struggled here last time
and that will be on his mind," he added.
"Mentally, it will also be a big test for him because he is
the sort of guy who gets quite homesick."