Aussies are better technically, not mentally - Hussain

Australia's technical superiority and not a perceived mental dominance was the key to their 2-0 Ashes lead, England captain Nasser Hussain said on Wednesday.

"Australia don't have a psychological hold on us," Hussain told a news conference in Perth on Wednesday ahead of the third Test starting on Friday. "It's purely a technical and ability thing.

"The sooner we watch them, watch how they practice, watch how they play the game and their disciplines when they bowl and bat, the sooner we'll get better.

"Every player, however good you are and, this is sacrilegious, put possibly even the Don (Donald Bradman), would have a weakness.

"That could be anything. It might be the biggest pitch-up, half-volley, slowest ball ever, but every player has a weakness."

Australia fast bowler Andy Bichel however, begged to differ.

"I would hate to be in their position -- they're 2-0 down," Bichel told a news conference." It's going to be hard for them and we've got a psychological advantage, that's easy to see."

"Hopefully we can exploit that and take care of the series in this match."

England pace bowler Andy Caddick (back) and batsman John Crawley (hip) will face fitness Tests before the match.

England lost the first Test in Brisbane earlier this month by 384 runs and the second in Adelaide last week by an innings and 51 runs.

Another loss would seal their eighth successive Ashes series defeat.

Mail Cricket Editor