Australia 'slight favourites' for Ashes, says Waugh

Australia are slight favourites to retain the Ashes against England this year, former captain Steve Waugh said Thursday.

Waugh said there wasn't much to choose between the two great rivals, but Australia had the edge ahead of the July-August five-Test series in England.

"We've got a very good squad, no matter who is going to be put on the park," he said.

"Our top 11 players will compete against anyone. I don't see why we can't win, but England will probably feel the same.

"I think it's pretty even, I think we're probably slight favourites." Australia won the last Ashes series 5-0 at home in 2006-07 but they will be without retired greats Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist when the latest chapter in international cricket's oldest rivalry starts in Cardiff on July 8.

Australia lost Test series away to India and at home to South Africa late last year but rebounded to beat the Proteas in South Africa in March.

The England squad for next month's first Test against the West Indies at Lord's is without several of the 2005 Ashes winning squad, including Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell, Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones.

"They need people like Flintoff and Jones to be in their team to have a chance of winning and we probably need a couple of our bowlers back," Waugh said.

Injury-plagued pace bowler Jones has had further knee surgery this month and is unlikely to play in this year's Ashes.

Waugh made four triumphant Ashes tours between 1989 and 2001, leading Australia to victory in the last series he played in that country. SYDNEY, Thursday , AFP