Skipper Andrew Strauss said Wednesday he was confident his players could pull off 'something pretty special' and win England's first Ashes series in Australia in a generation.
The five-Test series gets underway on Thursday with England chasing their first victory at the Brisbane Gabba fortress since Mike Gatting's team last prevailed on their way to the tourists' last Australian series victory in 1986-87.
Strauss said his team was well prepared from three tour leadup games in Australian conditions and was ready to lay down a marker in the all-important first match against Ricky Ponting's under pressure home team.
Australia have not won a Test since July, slipping below England in the world rankings, and are battling injuries and loss of form affecting key players.
TEAMS
AUSTRALIA: Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle.
ENGLAND (probable): Andrew Strauss (captain), Alistair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Chris Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson.
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