Despite the woeful start to their Ashes campaign, England should be aiming to beat Australia 5-0, according to Australian opening batsman Justin Langer. "If England are not going out in the first Test saying they want to beat us 5-0, they are crazy," he said. "That's how you have to go into every contest." Langer explained: "We would definitely like to win 5-0 – and will be working towards that. It's not just a case of being arrogant. That's just how you should go into every contest.

Langer has returned from Sharjah – where Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan last week – and will lead Western Australia in the three-day match against England that starts at Perth on Monday. He said his main aim would be to keep the tourists on the back foot after a dismal start to their programme.

England lost by 58 runs to an ACB Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill, and were then outplayed by a weakened Western Australia side in a drawn two-day game which ended on Friday.

"The whole summer for Australia is about retaining the Ashes," said Langer. "Cricket is about momentum, and therefore I hope England gain no momentum from this match. But I will be very surprised if they don't – and if they don't, it will not be a very competitive summer."

But Langer said he was not surprised by England's slow start to a campaign in which they hope to wrest the Ashes from Australia seven successive series trouncings. "They have just got off the plane, and it is always difficult coming to the WACA. All sides – not only England – have problems because it is a unique ground, with extra bounce. It's a bit like Australia going to the subcontinent and playing on spinning wickets. It takes a while to adapt. I expect them to lift a gear next week. They will be upping the ante."

Langer cautioned Australia's batsmen not to write off Steve Harmison, the young England fast bowler who has had a nightmare start to the tour. He sent down 16 wides – eight in one over – in the opening match and then conceded 89 runs from 19 overs in the second one.

"I was very impressed with Harmison when I saw him in England in a match at Lord's a few years ago," said Langer, who used to captain Middlesex. "He bowled like the wind – very, very fast. He reminded me of a white West Indian the way he loped in.

"Mike Hussey [who captained WA in the two-day game] told me that when Harmison got it right, he was very, very quick. Anyone who bowls fast and is bouncy always provides a good competition, so while he might be a bit wayward at the moment, you are always wary of someone with that sort of pace and bounce. He is a professional cricketer, and he knows what he has to do to get it right, and I am sure he is working every day towards getting it right."

Langer may be playing for WA against England, but his Test team-mates Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn are being rested after their exertions in Sharjah. WA's 12 is: Mike Hussey, Chris Rogers, Justin Langer (capt), Murray Goodwin, Marcus North, Scott Meuleman, Ryan Campbell (wk), Brad Hogg, Stuart Karppinen, Matthew Nicholson, Brad Williams, Jo Angel.

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