CANBERRA - The English cricket team is set to give Australia a fight in this season's Ashes series, former West Indies great all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers said today.

But the man who skippered the Windies in 39 Tests was not prepared to say the Englishmen would be able to beat Australia.

"England this year will give Australia problems," he told the National Press Club.

"I'm not saying they will win.

"I have watched them in England and I think they are a different team."

Sir Garfield, who today launched his latest book, said he had noticed a difference in the English team's approach and attitude.

"To me, they seem now to put bat to ball, instead of putting pad to ball. I think that is a great improvement," he said to chuckles from the audience.

"So don't be too surprised if they really give the Australians a bit of a fight."

Sir Garfield was clearly impressed with the current Australian team and said its 37-year-old Waugh brothers Steve and Mark should not be dropped purely because of age, but should be judged only on their form.

He also believed it was not a problem for the current team to be without a recognised all-rounder.

"Australia over the years have been doing so well without an all-rounder," he said.

"It's not necessary to pick an all-rounder if you don't need one.

"And I don't think that Australia needs one at the present moment."

He suspected players had now decided to specialise in either batting or bowling because they were playing a lot more cricket now than in his day.

"That is probably the reason why you don't have people doing that kind of donkey work we used to do years ago."

Sir Garfield also tossed aside suggestions cricket was waning in popularity in the Carribean and that young men were taking up basketball and other North American sports.

"Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, it is a myth," he said.

"Whoever it was who made that statement, really doesn't know what they were talking about."

He said that in his native Barbados, there were Under 13, Under 15 and Under 18 levels, as well as an international boys team which travels around the world to play, outside of the West Indies side and West Indies A.

"There's a lot of cricket being played in the West Indies. The West Indies cricket team has a lot of players that have a lot of ability.

"It just needs to be brought out.

"I think that in two or three years you will see a very, very strong West Indies team again."

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.