Cooley has changed allegiances since the last Ashes

Cooley, who left England last year to take charge of Cricket Australia's fast bowling school, was asked who had the best attack and said: "I think we have.

"But England have a formidable attack and it will be a good shoot-out."

Cooley, who helped Simon Jones to master reverse swing, hopes to do the same with Brett Lee and added: "You want to have all the deliveries."

Cooley masterminded a training session with Lee at the Sydney Cricket Ground this week and was impressed with the paceman.

"He looks in pretty good nick at the moment," Cooley said of Lee, who will turn 30 before the beginning of the Ashes series in November.

Lee took 20 wickets in the last Ashes series and made some useful, attacking runs in the lower order, but his 42 wickets against England have come at a cost of 44, noticeably higher than his overall average of 31.

"The biggest thing is making sure his workload comes up to scratch and he's ready to play," Cooley said. "He has a unique style, uncomplicated, and if we can keep it that way it'll stand him in good stead."

England pace quartet Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones were instrumental in the Ashes victory, taking 75 wickets between them.

Jones has not played a Test for England since the fourth Ashes match last summer and is battling to be fit for the latter stages of this winter's campaign, but Cooley is convinced his former charges will fare well.