England's Steve Harmsion came in for criticism from Thomson

"England will lose the five-Test series 3-0 and the margin will be worse for them if it doesn't rain," said the tough-talking Thomson.

"If you put the players from Australia and England up against each other it is embarrassing.

"There is no contest between them on an individual or team basis."

Hoggard's like a net bowler when you compare him to McGrath and Kasprowicz Jeff Thomson

England's resurgence over the last year, which saw them win seven successive home Tests, has been built around a young pace battery, including Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.

But Thomson, whose fast-bowling partnership with Dennis Lillee in the 1970s took the Aussies to the top of world cricket, does not expect to see pace playing a major part in this series.

It's beginning to make me think our friends from down under are a little bit concerned this time From NB Have your say on TMS

"England's bowlers have improved, I'll give them that," said Thomson, who took 100 wickets in Ashes Tests - half his career total.

"But playing against South Africa and then taking on Australia a few months later are vastly different tasks.

"Harmison was a big disappointment in South Africa, and I don't know the reason why, but he has to lift his game.

"The same goes for Hoggard. He's like a net bowler when you compare him to [Glenn] McGrath and [Michael] Kasprowicz."