The Ashes 2010: Australia are underdogs, admits Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist has conceded that Ricky Ponting and Australia will be in the unfamiliar position of going into a home Ashes series as underdogs in Brisbane next week. But in the unlikely event of that breeding English over-confidence, he followed up with a timely warning: the Aussies were pretty worried on the first morning of the last Ashes Test at the Gabba, before Steve Harmison bowled the infamous wide that set the tone for a 5-0 drubbing. "I think England are probably the favourites at the minute," said Gilchrist, who was such an influence as Australia's wicketkeeping all-rounder in the last two Ashes series down under. "They seem to have had the smoother and more fluent build-up. "But that certainly doesn't guarantee the Ashes. Come the Gabba, where Ricky's played in so many Ashes Tests and other series, and with a number of good allies around him who'll be firing up, Australia could get a roll on. "In 06-07, pre that first delivery I think everyone was very nervous and very uncertain as to which way it could go. A lot of the boys coming out from England had just won their first Ashes in 2005, so I was thinking they're going to be chockful of confidence. "If Australia get on top in Brisbane they could deflate that England team very quickly. All the build-up for the last 18 months doesn't mean anything then. Australia will realise if they can get on top of some of the players who have toured here before and open up a few wounds, then anything is possible." However Gilchrist admitted that the selectors' unusual decision to name a 17-man squad so far in advance of the first Test added to the feeling of uncertainty currently troubling the Australian game. "Naming a squad of 17 would indicate they're not certain, but I believe it was a marketing decision to raise the profile of the event," he added. "I'm not sure you need to do that ahead of an Ashes series – I don't think there will be any dramas with ticket sales. In terms of preparation it's not what an Australia team over the last 15 or 20 years had been through in trying to finalise that last 11. "But we're out of that era, and we're in an era where there's been a few changes. It's not what we're used to, but maybe it's something we've got to become accustomed to." Adam Gilchrist was speaking ahead of Sky Sports' coverage of the Ashes Tour, live and in high definition from 11pm on Wednesday 24 November on Sky Sports HD1. See www.skysports.com/ashesanywhere