Sydney: The farcical ending to the last Test may have dominated the headlines, but it was England's timely return to form against Pakistan that really set tongues wagging in Australia.
England had not won a Test series since their epic victory in last year's Ashes series but the 3-0 win over Pakistan suggests their form slump is nearing an end.
The Australians, who have not lost a Test since the defeat by England, are supremely confident of regaining the Ashes but are taking nothing for granted.
"They are a good side and they've showed if we're not at our best, they can beat us," leg-spinner Shane Warne said at an Australian team training camp.
"There's been a lot of talk about England have had injuries but they'll have a full-strength side. They've got plenty of depth."
Opening batsman Justin Langer said the Australians were convinced England's form over the past 12 months was irrelevant and they would be at the their best for the Ashes, starting in late November.
"We expect the danger. We are expecting them to be better against us than they were last summer," he said. "I'm not sure that's possible because they were at their peak. We expect them to be better but I can assure you we'll be better as well," Langer said.
Injuries have played a major part in England's prolonged form slump but most of their top players, with the possible exception of captain Michael Vaughan, should be fit for the Ashes.
"I'm not reading too much into their injury troubles," Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said. "I'm expecting the England team to be there ready to go fully fit and up for the contest."
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is one of the players under an injury cloud but Gilchrist said the Australians were so sure he would play that they were already planning their strategies around him.
"He's obviously been a focal point of our discussion and will continue to be so such is his impact in the world stage over the last two or three years," Gilchrist said.
The player in most doubt for England is Vaughan but the Australians are still not convinced he will be absent.
"Personally, I'm expecting them to bring their full-strength team out, I'm expecting their captain to be Michael Vaughan, I think that's the only way I know best how to prepare," said middle-order batsman Michael Clarke.
"I don't think a player can have the attitude that guys aren't going to be fit, they're not going to bring their best team, because then I think you are leaving the door open for a surprise."
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