PERTH, Dec 11: Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee says poor preparation is to blame for England's Ashes nightmare.

The English are 2-0 down and could surrender the hard-won Ashes in the third Test, starting on Thursday at the WACA in Perth, where Lillee is the president.

Speaking here on Monday, Lillee said he was surprised the English were doing so badly and that he thought it was down to inadequate preparation for the five-Test series.

Lillee said England should have headed straight to Australia after bowing out of the Champions Trophy in India in early November.

“I have (been surprised) because I thought with England fully fit, and good prep there would have been a great fight the whole way through,” Lillee said.

“But I think they have had a bad preparation.

“Going home to England (after the Champions Trophy), and not coming straight here and getting another seven or eight or nine or 10 days practice was bordering on stupid.

“I certainly don't think that will ever happen again.”

Lillee said injuries had not helped England's cause, but he also questioned some of their team selections, with continuing controversy over the non-selection of spinner Monty Panesar and wicket-keeper Chris Read, and to a lesser extent quick bowler Sajid Mahmood, in the first two Tests.—AFP