England should have arrived in Australia earlier, says Lillee

Lillee pinpointed the decision to fly home between the Champions Trophy in India and the start of the Ashes as a serious mistake by team management.

"Going back to England and not coming straight here to get another few days' practice was bordering on stupid.

"I certainly don't think that will ever happen again," he said.

"If England had been fully fit and had good preparation there would have been a fight all the way through."

They've had a horrible run of injuries, plus you throw in Trescothick and I'm not sure the selections have been right Dennis Lillee

Had England arrived in Australia a few days earlier, they may have been able to expand on the one-day and two three-day games they played in the run-up to the opening Test.

Former fast bowler Lillee, 57, is now president of the Western Australia Cricket Association, which hosts the third Test in Perth from Thursday.

His comments reflect those made by his former sparring partner Geoffrey Boycott after the defeat in Brisbane, when he said England should have played at least one four-day tour match.

Lillee accepts England have been hit by injuries to key players like Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones, and the return home of Marcus Trescothick with a stress-related illness.

But he is still expecting a competitive match in his home town, when Australia will be intent on claiming the victory which would secure the series and the return of the Ashes.

"They've had a horrible run of injuries, plus you throw in Trescothick and I'm not sure the selections have been right," said the 70-Test veteran.

"England have to win this one at 2-0 down, otherwise it's a dead series. Australia will be going all out to try to make sure they seal it in this game - it's going to be a ripper of a game."