Chappell said a comparison between the bowling units of both the sides convinced him that Andrew Strauss and his men would hold sway in the five-match series. "If you're looking for clues as to who might win, I always look at the bowling attacks," said the cricketer-turned-commentator. "Generally you can go with the team with the best attack. At the moment England certainly have got it. A bit will depend on (Andrew) Flintoff and his fitness, but if he's fit and can stand up for all five Tests then England have definitely got the better attack, and a better balanced attack. On that basis I would have them slight favourites," he said.

Former England captain Tony Greig also doubted Ricky Ponting and his men's ability to cope with the English attack and said, "I'd go for England, but only by a whisker. "There's always so much tension around the first Ashes Test so temperament could play a very important part," he said.