WHEN Monty Panesar is taking sprawling one-handed catches on his weaker side, you just know that England’s Ashes preparations could not be going much better.

By sheer contrast, Australia have named more players in their squad for one match than England have taken to the other side of the world for three months.

Of course, it will all count for nothing if the tourists don’t hit the ground running in the First Test at Brisbane.

Everything suggests that Andrew Strauss and Co are more than capable of retaining the urn. And it would be fantastic if, after getting their noses in front, they really rubbed Australia’s noses in it.

The Baggy Green empire has been slowly crumbling since the retirements of McGrath, Warne and Hayden. That golden generation inflicted some serious pain and embarrassment on a generation of English cricketers – and now it can be payback time.

The Aussies will not go down without a fight but it would be great if we saw a real ruthless streak come through from the Three Lions. When batsmen reach three figures, we want them to go on and get a double hundred. Similarly, if they get a chance to rout Australia for a low score, it must be taken.

Captain Ricky Ponting is under some serious pressure and, if England get off to the expected flying start, the back-stabbing and infighting could see him fall on his sword.

England are a very good team, but they are not great. They can only attain such tags if they add a ruthless, never-say-die edge to their game. And that is easier said than done against a nation of such sporting pride and prowess.

On a different note, it is fantastic that ITV4 will screen highlights for the greatest match-up in cricket. However, live television and radio coverage really is king in an Ashes series Down Under.

The highlights will be shown a full 16 hours after play has finished for the day, while every daily newspaper in the country is desperately searching for solutions on how to cover a Test match when, at their time of print, they will be a full day’s play behind.

For all the advancements in technology, the media really is hamstrung when it comes to covering such events from the other side of the world.