Fear not a factor for Flintoff

The England squad are a young tight-knit unit with little experience of playing in Australia © Getty Images

Skipper Andrew Flintoff on arrival in Sydney after the England team's Virgin flight

England captain Andrew Flintoff believes having a relatively inexperienced squad for the forthcoming Ashes series could work in his side's favour.

With only four having featured in the dismal 2002-03 Ashes series Down Under Flintoff feels many of the current squad are free of the mental scars previous players suffered at the hands of the Australians.

Last year's Ashes victory restored England’s self-belief and the squad has since been bolstered with the youthful exuberance of Alastair Cook, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar and Liam Plunkett.

Flintoff believes the newcomers have done well at the top level so far and are eager to make their mark as they head into one of the biggest tests the game has to offer.

“A lot of the lads haven't played in Australia and I've not played a Test match in Australia apart from the Super Series last year," said the Lancashire all-rounder.

“But on the other side of that, the lads haven't been to Australia and played in defeats before. They're not scarred by previous defeats.

"We're coming here open-eyed and looking forward to playing in different conditions against the best team in the world.

"It is a young side but every challenge that's been thrown in front of them so far they've responded well to, and I expect this winter to be no different.

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell © Getty Images

Buy this photo

“It’s a different side, but I wouldn’t say it was a weaker side. We are getting more experienced. Last year Kevin Pietersen hadn’t played a Test and Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell hadn’t played many either."

Of 2005's triumphant squad, Simon Jones and captain Michael Vaughan have been ruled out through injury, while Flintoff and Ashley Giles are recovering from lengthy lay-offs.

Yet their absences opened the door for youngsters to stake their claim for Ashes selection this time around and the fact they have taken their opportunities gives Flintoff confidence in the squad ahead of the start of the series.

"It's a young, exciting side that's looking to impress and looking to perform,” he said.

“There's competition for places in every department. That shows the strength of the squad.

“People have come in and performed over the past few years and out of the 16 in the squad anybody could play in that first Test match.

"That's a nice position to be and I'm sure over the next couple of weeks that'll all unfold going into the first one (Test) at Brisbane.

“We have to play better than we did last year. To play Australia in Australia is tough. We are expecting to play against a top side.”

England will stay in Sydney before travelling to Canberra to open the tour with a one-day match against a Prime Minister's XI on Friday.

They then have three-day games against New South Wales and South Australia before the first Test gets under way in Brisbane.