Brisbane pitch Key to Harmison

Harmison will pose a threat to the Australian batsmen on the Brisbane pitch. © Getty Images

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England’s Robert Key believes Australia may have played straight into paceman Steve Harmison’s hands by scheduling the first Test for Brisbane.

The wicket at the Gabba is one of the faster strips Down Under and that will help Harmison to settle in to his rhythm.

“I think the best thing Steve has got going for him is they go to Brisbane for the first Test and that could be the quickest pitch in the Ashes,” Key said.

“You saw this summer whenever he gets on a pitch with a bit of life on it there is not a batsman in the world who would want to face Steve Harmison.

“If he goes to Brisbane and sees what it is like, as opposed to the sub-continent or here in England sometimes, I think he will be licking his lips and be desperate to go on.

“He loves bowling on wickets where you can get bounce and hopefully that will kick-start him into the series.”

Key flies out to Perth next Wednesday for a five-week training camp with the 14-man Academy squad - all of whom have been put on standby in case of any injuries to the senior squad.

The Kent captain is no stranger to Ashes cricket, having played in all but the opening Test of the disastrous 4-1 defeat last time England toured Australia.

“The whole place goes mad, it becomes cricket crazy,” the 27-year-old said.

“The Australian public are desperate to see a contest. They obviously want to see their side win but they are so excited someone is going to go to Australia and give them some good cricket to watch.

“The Aussies start as favourites but that puts the pressure back onto them a little bit.

“Hopefully this time around it will be a different story. The last time [England toured] there were not many of us who came back with much respect from the Aussies, whereas now there is a load of them going there having earned huge respect.”