WARNE STILL POSES MAIN THREAT TO ENGLAND GLORY

SO, Ricky Ponting's ageing side are over the hill and Shane Warne's hold on the England batsmen has been broken. Well, they're interesting theories. For me, though, Australia's wealth of experience and Warne's bowling are two reasons for believing the world champions will come through and win this brilliant series.

I know Dennis Lillee has said Australia are a team in decline and that they're suffering from the ageing process. You cannot deny he is right in terms of years on the clock with a lot of thirtysomethings in the squad. But I believe age and experience can work for, rather than against, them in this tight situation.

There is no doubt Australia have been shocked by an England team, the like of which they've not encountered before.

Ponting's men have been on the back foot at both Edgbaston and Old Trafford and they've struggled to come to terms with the challenge confronting them.

But the series scoreline is still 1-1, in case anyone has forgotten, and I'm convinced these players are not over the hill yet. In fact, I believe all their experience can be the difference at Trent Bridge this week and at The Oval during the final Test.

So far, Australia's top order have not been willing to just bat time. Now, having had a week or so to think about their disappointing first innings in Birmingham and Manchester, they almost have to forget about trying to score so quickly and go back to the old Test method of moving along at three, or just under, runs per over.

If they do that for a couple of sessions the end result will probably be the same because they will wear the opposition down and get the chance to score more quickly in the third session.

As for Warne, there is a growing feeling (or is it hope?) that England's batsmen have demystified the great leg-spinner.

I can see where people are coming from there as well.

The second innings at Old Trafford was a surprise - to all of us, I think - in that Warne did not get a single wicket on a pitch which everyone thought was made for him. England played smart cricket.

They realised he was the big danger and were determined to keep him out and score their runs from the other end.

The way England have executed their HOW THEY STAND First Test Lord's Second Test Edgbaston Third Test Old Trafford Fourth Test Trent Bridge Fifth Test The Oval

plans since the First Test has been very impressive. At Lord's, they didn't seem to have a strategy for Warne and, as a result, he was all over them.

At Edgbaston, they went after him but he still ended up with 10 wickets.

At Old Trafford, the bowling in support of the legspinner simply wasn't up to scratch, so it was hard for him to be really effective.

But Warne is still turning the ball a long way, he's as accurate as ever and he remains one heck of a bowler with his subtle changes of spin and pace.

You would always assume that as a series progresses batsmen should be able to play him better.

That's never really happened in the past with England but this team of Michael Vaughan's has more confidence than previous sides. Even so, if

the bowling around Warne improves, and it needs to, then I can still see him picking up 10 wickets in a Test and being the matchwinner once again.

I think the character he has shown already is amazing. He came into this series under

huge pressure because of his problems off the field but I haven't seen one sign that it has affected him out there in the middle.

Warne is such a tough and resilient character.

He's a true champion and I can't believe anyone in England's camp is playing down the threat he still poses.

What Australia want now is for their whole bowling unit to function properly.

I would expect both Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee to be back at the top of their game after almost missing the Third Test because of injury problems. A decent break and a little bowl at Northampton should have done them a power of good.

As for the fourth member of the attack, I hope the selectors take a gamble on Shaun Tait. England won't have seen much of him and, although raw, he could rattle them with his pace.

HOW THEY STAND SO FAR First Test Lord's Aus won by 239 runs Second Test Edgbaston Eng won by 2 runs Third Test Old Trafford Match drawn Fourth Test Trent Bridge Thurs-Mon Fifth Test The Oval 8- 12 September

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