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Ashes 2013: England are red-hot favourites to beat Australia, says Nasser Hussain

England have beaten India, and Ashes fever is starting to hot up. Surrey announced that they have already sold out all five days for next summer’s final Test, the first time an English Test has ever been entirely sold out before Christmas.

With the oldest enemies in cricket meeting in back-to-back series next year, Sportsmail columnist Nasser Hussain, a veteran of many an Ashes battle as England batsman and captain, ran the rule over both teams with the countdown to the big battle now under way...

Three's a charm: England aim to win their third consecutive Ashes series next summer... and travel to Australia in winter

The captains

We have two phenomenal players here who seem to have been inspired to new heights by the captaincy and increased their potency since rising to high office. I think Alastair Cook is much more likely to score runs in Australia than Michael Clarke is in England, with the English seamers fancying their chances of him nicking the ball to wicketkeeper or slips over here next summer. But that is not to underestimate Clarke, who has had a Bradmanesque year.

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As a leader, Clarke, a disciple of Shane Warne, is more proactive and more inclined to do unusual things, like getting keeper Matthew Wade to have a bowl in Hobart when he was struggling for wickets. Cook will sit in more and is like Andrew Strauss in style but we saw in India that he is not afraid to quickly change things if they are not going right, like replacing Joe Root at silly point with Ian Bell in the final Test to immediate productive effect. He has made big changes to personnel already too, even though he is a new captain, like leaving out Stuart Broad after Mumbai.

The bowlers

On paper Australia have an excellent attack full of potential but the challenge for them will be keeping their bowlers fit because they have had one injury after another. A seam attack featuring the likes of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Pat Cummins could cause problems for England but there are too many question marks for Australia’s liking. And their spinner, Nathan Lyon, is OK and nothing more. England certainly won’t be kept up at night looking at DVDs of Lyon like we had to watch videos of Warne.

No sleepless nights: England's batsmen need not have nightmares about Nathan Lyon

England, in contrast, have strength in depth and are raring to go. They have been able to rest and look after their bowlers — they sensibly left Jimmy Anderson out of the Indian one-day series — and Graham Onions, who is a fantastic bowler who could get into almost any other Test team in the world, hasn’t even had a game yet this winter for England. And England have two world-class spinners in Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar. They have the bowling edge, no question.

The batsmen

Again I fancy England in batting too. Any side who cannot get Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow in the team at the moment must have depth while another two Test batsmen have emerged against India in Nick Compton and Root. England’s batters just seem more ready for Test cricket these days than Australia’s when they are introduced. Clarke and Mike Hussey are outstanding but there are question marks at the top of the order and around them.

Mr Cricket: Mike Hussey remains a middle order menace for England

Shane Watson has been decent without going on to big scores and David Warner could be very good but I am not sure yet, while the absence of Ricky Ponting could be a problem for them because they will miss his experience. No Australian line-up will be ordinary but they have no-one like Kevin Pietersen, and all England’s batsmen know how to perform in their own conditions.

The keepers

Matt Prior really is the finished product while Wade is another one still in the promising category. Warne has been saying for some time that Wade was the man to watch out for but I actually think  Australia could miss Brad Haddin. He is a feisty character who England don’t really like and a good attacking batsman. I cannot speak highly enough of Prior, the best No 7 in world cricket and a much improved keeper. I would keep him as vice-captain, too. He impressed in that role after Broad was left out in India.

In the box seat: Matt Prior (right) and Pietersen celebrate an Ashes victory Down Under

The verdict

I think next year’s two Ashes series are coming at exactly the right time for England whereas for Australia they may be a year to 18 months too early. For them to defeat England they will need to get everybody fit for sustained periods and rely on the galvanising abilities of Clarke. England will not leave anything to chance and have great bench strength. OK, they had had a bad year before they pulled things around in India but I believe they are very much back on track now. If I were a betting man I’d have money on England to win, as both teams stand now, both home and away.

  More... Happy landing: Textgate is history as England reward model pro Pietersen with full central contract The Top Spin: From the brilliance of Cook to Broad's nightmare... how England rated in India Flower sees India triumph as turning point for England as Cook, KP and Co arrive back at Heathrow after momentous victory






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