Dean confident of retaining Ashes

^{England Blind skipper Matt Dean talks exclusively to ECBtv about the 2008 Blind Ashes}

England Blind captain Matt Dean says “everyone's up for it” as his team prepare to travel to Australia for this month's Blind Ashes.

England claimed the first blind Ashes in 2004 in a thrilling series and Dean's team head Down Under looking to retain the trophy.

The teams will do battle in five one-day internationals in December before a Twenty20 clash.

“I’m feeling really good,” Dean told ECBtv. “It's an amazing opportunity to lead your team in the Ashes down in Australia, a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm over the moon.

“I can't wait. We've got a great bunch of lads and really looking forward to getting down there, letting them do what they can do and bring it home.

“Training has been going really well so I'm just raring to go, get on the plane, just get down there and get stuck into them.

“There's a good atmosphere. Everyone's up for it, really happy at the moment. Some of the guys have been training really hard and are really fit.

“It's going to be a real challenge but they're really up for it.”

Matt Dean will lead England in five ODIs and a Twenty20 game against Australia

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Dean was part of the successful 2004 side and admits that it remains the highlight of his career.

And he hopes to emulate that success in December when the first one-day international starts in Waitara.

He added: “2004 was my first series as a player and little did I know it would be the best series I've played in to date.

“The series was so close, the atmosphere was great and every ball there was something going on.

“The standard of cricket was really good. I've got real good fond memories.”

Dean hopes a good result for the blind team can inspire Kevin Pietersen's side in 2009

However, Dean has warned his side that Australia will be keen to settle old scores and that bringing the trophy back to England is not a formality.

“They're the toughest competitors, apart from ourselves, in blind cricket. They'll run through brick walls for their country but we'll run through a couple more, that's the difference,” he said.

“But they're going to be hungry. They're really bitter they lost the first Ashes.

“When they came over here in 2004 they did feel they were the superior team and they were going to walk it, and they didn't, so they’ve got a real score to settle and I'm really pleased that I can be there to stop them.

“Their strength is their bowling. They are one of the only teams in the world that can get this ball to bounce and cut in.

“We've tried developing that but these guys are experts at it - some of their figures are phenomenal. If we can conquer their bowling we'll win.”

Dean says it will be important for everyone to pull their weight if England are to launch a successful defence on Australian soil.

“Everyone will have a part to play,” he said. “People to watch out for are Nathan Foy - his batting and fielding are awesome.

“Andy Powers, my vice-captain, I'm hoping for a couple of man-of-the-match awards for him.

“John Garbett - his bowling is really good - and Luke Sugg, the Aussies fear him. He was 15 in 2004 and he took it to them and smashed them all over the place. They actually are scared of him.”

And Dean believes a victory Down Under can lead to success for Kevin Pietersen's team next summer.

“Back in 2004 it was like a catalyst and all the other teams went on to win the Ashes. I'm hoping we can start the winning attitude and that will follow through the summer 2009 and will be a really good year for all versions of England cricket.”