Former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee dismissed claims from Nasser Hussain that England had the firepower to match Australia's pace attack as "incredible". Hussain's suggestion that England had the pace to fight "fire with fire" against Australia "caused me to gag on my cornflakes", said Lillee. "My old mate Rod Marsh for years referred to England's pace attack as pie-throwers, and it's hard to argue given the Poms' long run of outs in Ashes series going back to 1989."

Hussain claimed that Darren Gough, Andy Caddick, Andy Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Steve Harmison could take on Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee head-to-head. "You've certainly got to admire Hussain's bravado in the face of seemingly impossible odds," Lillee said. "But hopes that Gough, after three knee operations, can lead the England attack for five Test matches on rock-hard Australian grounds, seems pretty optimistic to me.

"As the only one of six England fast bowlers who has previously toured Australia, a lot is going to be asked of Gough. Provided he stands up, Gough should generate enough enthusiasm and pace to threaten Australia's star-studded batting line-up.

"But who is going to back him up? It's fine to plan for an Ashes tour with great gusto, but it all depends on the quality of the bowlers a captain has at his disposal."

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