Ian Healy has dismissed England's chances of reclaiming the Ashes, saying that Australia's supremacy will not be threatened until the 2005 Ashes series in England. Healy, who scored the last of his four Test centuries in the opening match of the 1998-99 Ashes series at Brisbane, admitted that England had made great strides under the captaincy of Nasser Hussain, but predicted that it would be the same old story come the start of the series.

"I can't see it being any better for England than the last series," he said. "England may get a Test match, but I don't see the tale of the Ashes changing. They are on the right track, they talk a good game. They've got the right philosophies and I'd put them closer to Australia in 2005, but not here in our conditions."

Healy added that the one chink in Australia's armour is their first-innings vulnerability. "It was the same last year in England," he added, "but England didn't pounce. They have probably got one window there, to get them on the hop in Brisbane but if they don't I can't see it being any better than the last five series."

Nasser Hussain, speaking on Australian television prior to the arrival of his team-mates, agreed that England's bowling would be crucial. "The key in Australia is having your full variety of bowling," he said. "The Kookaburra ball does get soft after 15 or 20 overs and for too long England have just had a nice, pitch-it-up swing bowler or something that comes on to the ball nicely. We've just got to try and rough a few people up and hopefully with [Steve] Harmison and [Simon] Jones, we've got that in our armoury."

Australia begin their third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah on Saturday, and Healy said the trip would leave the Australian players primed for Ashes success. "I can see them being quite aggressive this Test match," he said. "There could be some real heat on and I think they are in great stead for the Ashes.

"What happens when you play on the subcontinent, and especially in the Middle East, is that you come back here and see the grounds and the practice facilities and the green of everything and it's just a wonderful feeling. They are going to love coming back to these conditions."

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