Eng team favourites for Ashes: Fraser

Sydney: Former fast bowler Angus Fraser believes a well-settled England team is in a better position than an inexperienced Australian team to win the Ashes this year. Fraser said the retirement of veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey from the Australian Test team has created an opinion in England that their batting is susceptible and it’s bowling is fragile. Fraser added England has a core of players now whom they believe are the best around, so selection seems quite a simple thing.

The former quick added when you`re chasing wins and trying to get back to where you were before, which is going to be very hard for Australia, you`re constantly searching for the next Shane Warne or the next Glenn McGrath, and these players don`t turn up very often. Fraser also said that he believes England is in a far stronger position than Australia as they`ve got a settled side. Fraser added England has a new captain and opener Nick Compton has come in to replace Andrew Strauss at the top of the order but Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, these players have been around four or five years and they`re pretty hardened, successful Test cricketers. He added Australia don`t possess players with a similarly proven track record. Yes, Michael Clarke is an outstanding player and Peter Siddle is a consistently good bowler, but everyone else, really, because of Hussey and Ponting going, you can``t be sure. ANI