October 19 Saturday 2002
England arrive in Australia quietly confident

PERTH: England's cricketers arrived in Australia on Friday quietly optimistic about their chances of regaining the Ashes.

Opener Marcus Trescothick laughed off suggestions his team would be crushed by the Australians, insisting England were happy to be written off as underdogs. "It probably takes a bit of pressure off us," Trescothick told reporters shortly after the squad landed.

Despite Trescothick's optimism, everything still points to an easy victory for Steve Waugh's men. Australia have beaten England in the last seven Ashes series, matching the longest winning streak by either nation since they first locked horns in 1876-77.

In their most recent meeting in England a year ago, Australia crushed the home side to win 4-1. It could have been 5-0 if not for a generous declaration by Australia's fill-in captain Adam Gilchrist, but Trescothick said he was hopeful things would be different this time. "Somewhere along the line it has to change," he said. "These things do go in phases...hopefully it is this series."

The early indications are that few people in Australia expect the English to mount a serious challenge during the five-match series. Even before the English arrived, the country's only national newspaper described the tourists as "second-rate" while former test wicketkeeper Ian Healy predicted they would be thrashed as badly as last year. "I can't see it being any better for England than the last series," Healy said. "England may get a test match, but I don't see the tale of the Ashes changing."

Compounding England's woes are injuries to fast bowler Darren Gough and all-rounder Andy Flintoff, who are both unlikely to play before the first test starting in Brisbane on November 7.

But the rest of the squad will be available and back in training on Saturday morning with the first warm-up match, a limited-overs game against an invitational side, scheduled for Tuesday. England captain Nasser Hussain was a notable absentee when the squad arrived on Friday after deciding to fly in earlier in the week with his wife Karen, who is heavily pregnant and planning to have the baby in Australia.