Waugh backing Australia bid
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh believes talk of the team being blown away by England in the Ashes this year is premature.
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England have been widely tipped to retain the urn in comfortable style when they host the Australians this summer, and they are also regarded by many as favourites for the away series that starts in November.
Waugh is feeling more optimistic about Australia's prospects, though, and has drawn comparisons between the current team - led by Michael Clarke, and missing the recently-retired Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey - and the one he was part of in 1989, which claimed a surprise 4-0 Ashes win in England.
Asked if he thought people were getting ahead of themselves predicting England will storm to victory in both of the upcoming series, Waugh said: "Definitely. That is probably unrealistic.
"I think England will start as favourites, but certainly I don't think they will storm to victory.
"I think we will put up a good fight, and there is something about Australia in England.
"Both teams will lift, Michael Clarke will want to make a name for himself as captain, and a lot of young players will be there on the cusp trying to establish themselves.
"I see our side a little bit like the 1989 team. We came across to England as big underdogs, we won 4-0 and as a team we came together and a lot of the players developed.
"It is the same sort of scenario hopefully now for Australia.
"England are a pretty secure, stable side, but if someone like Jimmy Anderson gets injured, that will put a big hole in their team."
Waugh feels the outcome of Australia's four-match Test series in India, in which they are currently 2-0 down, will be key to how their mindset is going into the Ashes.
The 47-year-old - speaking in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards - said: "We want to be reasonably confident, but I think that will depend upon our next two Tests against India.
"If we can come out of that series playing some good cricket and not losing 4-0, that will have a big impact on how we go into England.
"But if we lose 4-0, then it is going to be damaging and probably some players will be dropped.
"So the next couple of weeks is important for Australian cricket. I don't think we'll be over-confident, but we are quietly confident we can do well."
Asked if he fancied Australia's chances against England at home, Waugh added: "I think so, and we fancy our chances in England as well.
"We certainly won't be going over thinking we are going to lose the series, or try to draw - we will be going over to try to win.
"We have bowlers who can take 20 wickets and when you have got that you can win any Test match. It just needs a couple of batsmen to find some form, and we have talent there.
"So we will be going to England to try to win the series. I think England will start as favourites, and back in Australia, we may well start as favourites in our own conditions."
Alastair Cook's England are in New Zealand, where they have bounced back from a slow start - they were all out for 167 in their first innings - to draw the opening Test of a three-match series.
Cook has expressed concern about the team's habit of beginning poorly, but Waugh thinks in making their recovery, England have demonstrated some important attributes.
He said: "Anyone can have a bad day, but then the way they got out of that match was pretty impressive.
"Their batting in the second innings shows they are a strong unit, that they know how to play Test match cricket and that they are hard to beat.
"So while it was a negative to start with, they really showed what the team is all about.
"They have pretty good strength and depth. They will obviously want to start the first Test well (this summer) - it could be crucial, particularly in an Ashes series.
"But they have also shown they can recover, which is important."
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