Cricket: Mixed report card for England

James Anderson will have nightmares about his Ashes tour four years ago which yielded five wickets at 82.60. Photo / Getty Images

England's good form of 2010, winning seven of 10 Tests, comes with a mixed report card.

Four of those victories were against Bangladesh and the other three came during Pakistan's corruption-plagued tour of England.

Even with bookmakers nibbling away at team spirit and standing accused of doing deals with touring skipper Salman Butt, who is currently suspended, Pakistan managed to win one of the four Tests.

Perhaps the true litmus test for England in terms of Australian conditions was in Johannesburg in January, when South Africa won by an innings and 74 runs.

A little bit of bounce in the deck, combined with some lively pace bowling from Dale Steyn (5-51 and 2-64) and Morne Morkel (3-39 and 4-59) and Andrew Strauss' men were knocked over for 180 and 169.

Paul Collingwood - not England's most gifted strokeplayer but arguably their most determined batsman - stood defiant with 47 and 71 amid the wreckage.

England's chances of retaining the Ashes this summer rest largely on hope, as the team's record Down Under is an ugly one, having last won a series in Australia in 1986-87.

A dominant pace attack is vital as is solid top-order batting.

England need two-metre tall twin towers Stuart Broad and Steve Finn to put fear into the hearts of Australia's top order.

Neither has played a Test in Australia and 21-year-old Finn's impressive record of 32 wickets at 23.21 has been recorded against Pakistan and Bangladesh, both ranked outside the top five Test nations.

James Anderson, whose cocky style was in full voice as he carved through Pakistan with 23 wickets at 13.73 in the four-Test series in July-August, will have nightmares about his Ashes tour four years ago which yielded five wickets at 82.60.

Fiery blond quick Broad claimed 18 wickets in England's victorious campaign against Australia in 2009, but the heat is on the touring team's pace trio this summer Down Under.

Graeme Swann also shapes as a key figure. His Test record of 113 wickets at 26.55 is very solid, although his scalps cost 40.50 against Australia and he'll be eager to prove Australia doesn't always have to be a graveyard for off-spinners.

Strauss epitomises the mental hurdle England face. The left-handed opener averaged 24.70 in Australia four years ago, but managed 474 runs at 52.66 in his side's 2009 Ashes triumph on home soil.

Admittedly Australia's pace attack was in disarray last year, particularly a wayward Mitchell Johnson at times, but England can't rely on Ricky Ponting's men dropping their bundle in similar fashion again.

Strauss' opening partner Alastair Cook averages 42.78 in 60 Tests but just 26.21 against Australia in 10 matches.

It's almost a given that big-hitting right-hander Kevin Pietersen, whose famous self-confidence is starting to peak again, will fire against Australia.

The trick will be to have plenty of runs on the board before the South African-born No.4 strides to the crease.

- AAP