The English press is going gaga, over its team performances, victories over depleted sides like NZ & pathetic slides like WI have suddenly rekindled the English sportswriters waning pensmanship. Platitudes are flowing thick and fast and already the word is out , bring on the Aussies!! Theres still 9 months to go before the Kangaroos arrive and before that there is the small matter of negotiating 5 test matches in South Africa, a country where no team , except the Aussies have managed to win a series int he last 12 years. Looking ahead, I would dare to agree with McGrath, the Aussies are gonna win 3-0. why?

1) Harmison , Flintoff are good bowlers but are they good enough to withstand the withering blades of Hayden, Ponting , Gilchrist.? And heaven forbid if any one of them breaks down, there is no-one to take their place.
2) The English lower order has been making lotsa runs, Flintoff, Jones & Giles in particular. But will they be able to handle Warnes's wares? Remember how Flintoff struggled in SL.
3) The Aussies are far better catchers than the Pommies.
4) To beat the Aussies requires immense mental strength and a do or die attitude.
5)Till now only the Indians have been able to match terms with them in the longer versions of the game. Mebbe because they have two batsmen in Sachin & Laxman who can carry out a sustained attack on their bowlers .