August 06, 2006	Sunday	Rajab 10, 1427

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SYDNEY, Aug 5: The Ashes are still more than three months away but the mind games are already well under way.

The Australians, who lost their stranglehold on cricket's most famous trophy with defeat in England last year, have wasted little time kick-starting the traditional verbal jousting.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who is back in full training after taking a break while his wife was undergoing cancer treatment, fired the opening salvo when he identified Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss as his two “bunnies”.

McGrath has always made a point of identifying his main target for each series but said he was making an exception for the Ashes by choosing two.

“There's no use naming one these days,” he cheekily told reporters.

McGrath, whose injury during the last Ashes series proved pivotal in his team's loss, said he was disappointed by England's form slump in the past 12 months and was brimming with confidence about Australia's chances.

The world champions have won 11 of the Tests they have played since the Ashes and McGrath said they had learnt their lessons from defeat.

“We walked away from that series a better team,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday.

Australian batsman Mike Hussey also dismissed England's chances of retaining the Ashes, claiming the conditions would not be as helpful for the visitors.

The Australians struggled to cope with the vagaries of reverse swing in England but Hussey said it would hold no fears in their own country.

“I don't think it will be as big a factor,” Hussey told reporters.

“In the past, I don't think too much notice was given to reverse swing, but we're certainly starting to try to practise against it more and use it more in the nets.”

Former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee said the loss of injured England captain Michael Vaughan had shifted the advantage to the home team.

“It puts (Australia) in a stronger position,” Lillee said.

“Vaughan's a very, very good player and they will miss him sorely, particularly at the top of the order.”

But Rod Marsh, the former Australia wicket-keeper and coach at the English Cricket Academy, issued a word of caution, predicting slow left-armer Monty Panesar could emerge as the man to trouble the Australians.

“If you can bowl finger spinners well in England, there's no reason why you can't bowl them well here,” Marsh said.—Reuters