I think the Aussies will be fooling no body but them selves if they under estimate England this time, I can bet it wouldn't be a clean sweep. For me the most noticeable difference between this England side and ones in the past is not that of Steve Harmison or Andrew Flintoff, or even an improved Graham Thorpe and Marcus Trescothick but much greater self beliefe, for the first time in a long, long while an English side is going to enter the Ashes knowing they are in with a realistic chance.

There will always be a lot of talk about Freddie and Harmy but the fact remains for me that England are not a two man team , there are 9 others players in the team and 5-6 within the squad that are all part of the set up. People like Mathew Hoggard have come a long way since the last ashes, and are now for me up to world class level. I would be surprised if he doesn't trouble at least some of the Aussies this time. Graham Thorpe is also a changed man, with his personal problems behind him, his full focus is now directed on his career, and the effect of that can be seen in his returns. Then Micheal Vaughan always pushes up a gear when he's playing Australia, you never know with Mark Butcher; Giles has also made great strides in the recent past.

If you look closely there is a lot more to the threat posed by England interms of the next ashes other than just Harmison and Freddie. I beleive England will compete well even if they aren't playing.