As Australia prepares for a Test tour of India in February and March, the upcoming Ashes Series against archrival England is on their minds. Former pace legend Glenn McGrath has warned Australia that England, led by Ben Stokes, will be difficult to beat at home this summer.
Australia has won two of the last three Ashes series, thumping England 4-0 at home in 2017 and 2021, and drawing 2-2 in England in between.
However, after performing admirably in recent Test matches, England will attempt to reclaim the Ashes when Australia visits for a five-match Test series in June and July.
England have won nine of their last ten Test matches under Stokes and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, and have secured impressive victories over New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and India, prompting McGrath to claim that they will pose a threat to Australia in the Ashes.
"You've got to give it to the English," said McGrath, who took 563 wickets in 124 Tests.
"I think the way they're going about it is fantastic. Positive, aggressive, and self-assured. I recall that team from 2005, which defeated my Australia team for the first time in a long time.
"That group was playing with a lot of confidence and they had the same group of guys together. Michael Vaughan was doing a great job as a leader so maybe there's something similar happening with Ben Stokes' England.
"They've got a team full of confidence so they're going to be tough to beat." for the next edition.