Mike Gatting believes England are capable of retaining the Ashes in Australia this winter, but feels a fast start will be crucial to their chances.
Gatting, 53, remains the last England captain to win an Ashes series on Australian soil when his touring side emerged triumphant in 1986-87.
He insists the opening exchanges of the latest series between the two old rivals – which gets underway on Wednesday night – will be crucial to what unfolds in the weeks ahead.
England’s 2006-07 campaign got off to the worse possible start when Steve Harmison’s opening delivery ended in the hands of captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip, the tourists never recovering the momentum as they ended up on the receiving end of a 5-0 whitewash.
Gatting has warned Andrew Strauss and his troops they must learn the lessons of that painful tour and get out of the blocks quickly in Brisbane this time around.
”England have to come out all guns blazing if they want to be successful,” Gatting told The Age.
”The first session of any series is crucial if they want to set the tone and set the dynamics for the rest of the series.
”You can’t lose a series in the first morning, but you can go a hell of a long way to losing it. I think we have a very good chance of succeeding, but we have to do better than we did last time.
”We never got started and the first ball set the tone for the rest of what became a terrible series.”
Enjoyment
Gatting also believes that England must learn to relax off the pitch as well as focus on it if they want to keep hold of the little urn come January.
”You want them to enjoy touring rather than fear it and you have to let them let their hair down at times,” he continued.
”I hope this England side get the chance to see Australia and to enjoy themselves.
”There will be enough pressure on them in the middle so they need no extra stress placed on their shoulders. If they can relax and enjoy their cricket then there is no reason why Strauss can’t lead England to a win.”
