England favourites to win Ashes opener: Waugh
Australian captain Steve Waugh said on Friday that England were the favourites to win the first Ashes test in July.
Speaking at his team's farewell lunch in Sydney, Waugh said that England deserved to be rated as favourites on form.
England have won their last four series and also triumphed in the first test against Pakistan earlier this week, while Australia lost their most recent series against India.
"England are playing well," Waugh said.
"We've lost the last two test matches so we'll go in as underdogs, I'm sure, in the first test."
The Australians fly out from Sydney on Saturday for next month's triangular limited overs series against England and Pakistan.
The first of five Ashes test matches starts in Birmingham on July 5.
Mail Cricket Editor
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