Australia planning to target dangerman Thorpe

Australia plan to target in-form batsman Graham Thorpe as they seek to put a "demoralised" England side to the sword in the Ashes series starting next week.

Australia captain Steve Waugh, revealing some of his strategies for the tests, said his team had the luxury of going into the contest with confidence sky high, all key players fit, and every member of the touring party still a candidate for selection.

Giving his final news conference before the opening test at Birmingham's Edgbaston next Thursday, Waugh displayed his usual steely resolve to win the series mixed with the realisation that it could be his last tour of England.

And he warned the hosts to expect some surprises during the series.

"We've got a few things up our sleeves," he said with a grin.

Waugh said England could not be anything but demoralised after their whitewash in the triangular one-day series against Australia and Pakistan, which included a record-breaking defeat at the hands of Waugh's victorious team.

But the skipper said he expected England to put up a stiffer show at Test level, where they have performed extremely well over the last year, climbing to third in the world rankings behind South Africa and top dogs Australia.

Waugh picked out Thorpe and fast bowlers Darren Gough and Andy Caddick as the main threats to Australia.

"Thorpe is the danger batsman," he said, giving the left-hander the accolade as the wicket Australia most prized.

"He is possibly a great player," Waugh said.

Thorpe has been his country's most consistent batsman over the last year as England chalked up four successive series wins before drawing 1-1 with Pakistan earlier this season.

However, the Surrey player is rated doubtful to make the first of the five Ashes tests as he is struggling to overcome a calf strain.

England's other world class batsman, opener Mike Atherton, is also well-regarded by Waugh, though he was quick to remind journalists that Aussie paceman Glenn McGrath has had much the best of the contests between the two over recent years.

McGrath has claimed Atherton's wicket 13 times in 24 innings and the Lancashire opener has an average of only 12 against the fast bowler in Wisden's new head-to-head averages. In all tests against Australia, however, Atherton averages a respectable 37.

As for England's attack, Waugh described crowd-favourite Gough as a player "who comes at you all day" and Caddick as a "wicket-taking bowler."

GOOD FORM

Waugh said he was pleased with the touring side's form so far, adding that selecting the test side would be difficult.

"Every player still has a chance of selection," he said.

He dismissed suggestions that the Australians would go into the series with their confidence dented by defeats earlier this year in India.

The Indians ended Australia's world record run of 16 successive test victories in March, winning the home series 2-1 after the Aussies had won the opener by 10 wickets.

"We've got nothing to rehabilitate ourselves from after India," Waugh said.

Waugh added that he had no thoughts of retiring in the near future but admitted this could be his last tour of England and that he wanted to savour every moment of it.

"Growing up in my back yard in Australia, I never thought I'd play for Australia let alone be captain," Waugh said.

"England has always been my favourite place overseas to play and I'm going to savour every moment of these Tests because they may be my last here."

Mail Cricket Editor