Buchanan warns Australia about English seamers

Australian coach John Buchanan has warned his team that they will face a stern test from the English seamers during this summer's Ashes series.

Andy Caddick and Darren Gough have been at the forefront of the English revival in recent times, and Buchanan knows that the Australian batsmen will require good techniques if they are to cope with the pair in English conditions.

"We're going to face a pace bowling attack that can swing and seam the ball," he said. "In the right conditions they will be very difficult attack to handle. Just as in India, where it was spin bowling in the right conditions that troubled us, our batsmen will need a technique appropriate to the conditions.

"Swing and seam will be the major thrust of the England attack and we have to make sure we have our techniques ready."

Buchanan has urged his team into further practise sessions so that they can make the most of all the available time when they arrive in England. They depart on May 26th.

"We've asked the players to have a minimum of four batting or bowling sessions a week," he explained. "Nothing too serious, just hitting some balls and rolling their arms over," he said.

"That's so when we get to England we're not in a situation where we're not getting as much out of the first 10 days or so because people are sore."