Benaud: England can retain urn

Benaud thinks England can retain the Ashes © Getty Images

While most Australians are confidently expecting their cricketers to regain the Ashes on home soil, Richie Benaud - television's 'Voice of Cricket' - is refusing to write off England's chances.

Despite their mixed fortunes since the glorious summer of 2005, the former Australia captain-turned-commentator believes England are capable of overcoming their injury woes.

The loss of last year's successful Ashes skipper Michael Vaughan and cutting edge pace bowler Simon Jones and the lingering question marks over the fitness of new captain Andrew Flintoff and spinner Ashley Giles have cast a cloud over England's build-up.

But Benaud said: "England have a decent chance of retaining the Ashes because all they have to do is draw the series at worst whereas Australia actually have to win more matches."

Ultimately, in Benaud's esteemed opinion, it could once again all hinge on the performance of England's battery of fast bowlers.

"I think it all depends, as it did last year, on the England pace bowling attack. Their pace bowlers bowled well and if they can do that again then I think England have got a good chance," the 76-year-old said.

Benaud does not expect the absence of Glamorgan man Jones to be a mortal blow to England's hopes.

Simon Jones will be missing for the tourists with an injury to his knee © Getty Images

"Simon Jones will certainly be missed, partly because he was an improving
bowler," he said.

"He bowled really well during the last series and, although England as a team did it very well, Simon Jones was the best reverse swing bowler in the side.

"But there's no reason why England can't have a balance in their attack this year, even though Jones isn't there.

"They still have Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Flintoff. That's three main-line bowlers with plenty of pace about them.

"Now there's the opportunity to get some of the new boys to bowl as part of that attack and if they take that chance, it augurs well for England. But it does all depend on how the fast bowlers go."

Not that former slow-bowler Benaud, with a personal haul of 248 Test wickets, is underestimating the Shane Warne factor or the possible contribution from the England spin pair of Giles and Monty Panesar, who could be operating in tandem for the first time.

He rates Warne as "the greatest leg-spinner the world has ever seen" and said: "I think spin will be important but not as important as pace.

"Panesar has just come on the scene while Giles has been out injured and has done well in the past year.

Monty Panesar will face Australia for the first time © Getty Images

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"Panesar hasn't played in Australia and Giles is coming back so we don't know exactly how that's going to go but they all will play their part - Warne probably more than the other two."

But Benaud is concerned about the effect the loss of Yorkshireman Vaughan will have on England.

"England are going to miss Michael Vaughan because of his tactical expertise and the fact that he's a good player. They'll miss the little things he added to the series last year," he said.

Just in case anyone should be under the misapprehension that Benaud is talking up England's chances to the detriment of Australia's, the veteran commentator who will be working for Channel 9 in Australia, restored the balance by stating: "Australia are a very good side.

"People talk about the Australians getting old but that means they are more experienced. They'll put out a good fast bowling attack.

"Glenn McGrath is back after the illness to his wife and they will have a very strong batting side as well."

Benaud's commentary career in England, which came to a close when Channel 4 were outbid by Sky for the live Test-match rights, ended on an almost unbelievable high with the epic 2005 Ashes series.

But he warned cricket fans not to automatically expect a repeat of the dramatic series which saw England regain supremacy of the old enemy.

"Last year we had the most extraordinary summer. I always thought the 1981 series was the greatest we'd ever had but last year surpassed it.

"I would like to think the series in Australia will be as exciting as last year - but it's hard to generate that again," he added.