encouraging signs for england

Encouraging signs for Flintoff's England.

After the insane over-reaction to England's meaningless one-day defeat to the Prime Minister's XI, two decent performances in the three-day matches that have followed suggest England can at least go close to retaining the Ashes this winter.

Each of the top six who will start in Brisbane have made at least one score over 50, while the sight of Steve Harmison fielding on the final day in Adelaide suggests he will be fit enough to replace Sajid Mahmood.

And common sense has prevailed in the spin-bowling department where Monty Panesar has got the nod over Ashley Giles.

And now Australia have problems of their own. After making the decision to play five bowlers, Shane Watson's hamstring injury has caused a rethink and they now look set to go into the first Test with Michael Clarke at number six and just four specialist bowlers.

They still have to make one selection decision; who will be the fourth of those bowlers.

Interestingly, our on-site poll currently has Shaun Tait out in the lead, but I still expect Mitchell Johnson to get the nod for his Test debut.

It's going to be a big ask for the promising left-armer, and Tait will be able to confirm there is no place to hide in a four-man bowling attack.

Whoever is selected, it's crucial they maintain the pressure exerted by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

Australia's back-up bowlers failed to do so last summer, allowing England to build the substantial first-innings platforms on which victory was built.

If Johnson, Tait or whoever fail this time, England could be celebrating once more. And don't take my word for it; Richie Benaud, who knows a thing or two about cricket and was one of the few pundits tipping England last summer, has likened the outcome of this series to "a toss of a coin".