Feature: Ashes form guide Australia 'will target Vaughan'

A veteran of 96 Tests for Australia he may be, but should Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell shine in the Test series, which begins on 21 July, inside he will be bristling with pride.

When England finally followed the lead of their upstart cousins to form a National Academy in 2001, they gave Marsh the job of running it.

The first intake included many players now impressing at international level.

Strauss, Bell, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones were there. Even the mighty Andrew Flintoff spent a few weeks under Marsh's guidance before joining the tour to India.

The experiment has clearly paid off.

To be brutally frank there are some pathetic Test teams around at the moment Rod Marsh

The task of winning Test matches has become a welcome habit, and the youngsters coming into the team are no longer fazed by the responsibility.

Instead they have the psychological ammunition and sharply-honed cricketing skills to succeed at the highest level.

Publicly, Marsh says he does not mind who wins the Ashes.

In an interview for BBC World Service, he says: "I won't have any control of it and when I am not in control of something I don't get involved.

"But I will be disappointed if the cricket's not good because everyone is looking forward to this series with such anticipation."

Marsh does not mince his words when talking about the current malaise afflicting many Test nations.

"To be brutally frank there are some pathetic Test teams around at the moment.

"Journalists in Australia are talking about the lack of opposition the Australians are getting.

"They are saying it will ruin cricket unless they get some opposition and the players themselves are crying out for some opposition.

"The Australian team is top of the heap by some way but the players want to know just how good they are."

Strauss apart, Marsh says England's batting has not been as good as it can be in recent times.

Marsh feels Jason Gillespie could have a very successful Ashes

But he sees one key similarity between the two sides.

"England have got themselves into some terrible fixes but manage to get out and win games just like Australia have done.

"Australia have been in some horrible fixes but all of a sudden [Adam] Gilchrist comes in and in an hour changes a game.

"There are a few people in England who do that as well - Flintoff springs to mind.

"He is a fine cricketer - he hits the ball as hard as anyone and he can bowl and he can catch.

"He's right up there as far as ability is concerned and he's got a very good attitude to the game."

Marsh believes Australia's shaggy-haired paceman Jason Gillespie could have a big impact in the Ashes.

"He's bowled well in England before. His type of bowling is very suited to English conditions and Gillespie is the one that could be the big surprise."

Marsh is also talking up the evergreen pair of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who boast over 1,000 Test wickets between them.

It is already almost impossible to get hold of an Ashes ticket. Marsh, and many others, are hoping the hype is justified.