Beating Australia is what it is all about

Captaining the team to victory Down Under in 1986-87 was a great thrill but the mantle of being the last England skipper to win the Ashes is one I will happily pass on to Nasser Hussain - I've held it far too long already.

Nasser could take a look at what happened before and during the First Test of that series nearly 15 years ago. Firstly, the Press didn't give us a chance. England were the team that 'can't bat, can't bowl and can't field' and the Australians only had to turn up to win. After the recent one-day internationals that sounds strangely familiar. Yet little more than a month ago England were a session away from completing a fifth successive series win.

The fantastic comeback in 1981 also began from a low point when Ian Botham was relieved of the captaincy after losing at Trent Bridge and making a 'pair' in the drawn Second Test at Lord's. People writing you off as no-hopers can be a great spur.

Secondly, Nasser must drum it into his team just how important the first day will be at Edgbaston tomorrow when it comes to setting the tone for the whole series.

In Australia that winter, Bill Athey batted through the first day in Brisbane, I made a half-century and the Aussies were visibly shocked they had only managed to knock over two of these lily-livered Poms. It was a shock they never recovered from.

Nasser needs a similar start tomorrow. Getting off on the right foot is always important in Test cricket as we saw against Pakistan last winter when Mike Atherton and Marcus Trescothick batted through the first couple of sessions in Lahore.

Come to think of it, Atherton and Trescothick are not unlike Athey and Chris Broad in style and approach. Graham Thorpe, when he recovers from the calf strain that will keep him out of the First Test, could be the David Gower at No 5 and this team also have a batsman-wicketkeeper from Surrey - ours was Jack Richards. But that's where the similarities end.

The biggest difference is I could call on quality spinners in Phil Edmonds and John Emburey, and we had more depth in reserve among the fast bowlers. Also, I don't think there is much doubt Australia are a stronger side - if not the unbeatable Titans some writers would have us believe.

Do I think England can win the series? Yes, I do. But that's different from saying they will. My heart says a draw.