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BRISBANE - Paceman Glenn McGrath is concerned the Australians are starting to lose their home-ground advantage because of too much tinkering with local pitches.
While McGrath is confident of victory against England in the first test on a lively Gabba deck that has "retained its character", he has concerns about the other venues.
A classic example of the changing nature of Australian pitches is Perth's Waca, formerly a fast bowler's paradise but now reportedly taking spin.
"The Gabba is the only wicket that has retained its character over the years," McGrath said. "That's probably my biggest disappointment. Australian wickets are losing their character. We are probably losing our home advantage a bit.
"Batsmen are getting used to batting on very good batting wickets that aren't doing a great deal."
The pitch's nature is not the only reason McGrath has fond memories of the Gabba. He said making his Ashes debut there in November 1994 was a turning point in his career.
The lanky New South Wales paceman had ordinary match figures of nine for 101. But the lessons learned steeled him for a career that currently boasts 542 test and 342 one-day international wickets. "Everyone was saying before that match you have to have a consistent outswinger to be successful at test level and I was listening to them," McGrath said. "Then I realised I was picked for the way I bowl.
"I went back to bowling that way and have been around ever since - so that was a good lesson for me."
McGrath has scoffed at suggestions that the English batsmen will attack him in the first test starting tomorrow.
He said it was unlikely England would be overly aggressive now opener Marcus Trescothick (depression) had gone home and No 3 Ian Bell (finger injury) was a doubtful starter.
"If they come out and try to take me on and lose a couple of wickets, then England's in big trouble. Playing at the Gabba, if the batsman wants to do that [attack], it's a big ask."
McGrath, as per usual, talked up Australia's chances. "The way the Australian team has been playing the last 12 months, we still feel if we go out there and play as well as we can no one will get close to us."
But of England, McGrath said: "The team they've got at the moment isn't the same as pre-Ashes last time.
"They had been winning for 18 months, everyone was in form, they had the same team.
"This time they have a different captain, a lot of new players, a lot of big players coming back from injury - it's a massive contrast."
Australian allrounder Shane Watson was last night ruled out of the first test with a hamstring strain.
Watson had wanted to bowl yesterday in a bid to prove his fitness but was only able to run laps of the Gabba with team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.
Kountouris and Watson had agreed the 25-year-old would be able to play if at least 70 per cent fit, but they decided it was not worth the risk.
- AAP
