Jack Russell wants strong start from England down under

Russell played against Australia nine times - but never on the winning side

Gloucestershire Test legend Jack Russell says that a strong start is a must for England when the Ashes get underway in Brisbane on Thursday.

"If Australia get off to good start they'll get everyone behind them," Russell told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"If you get them off to a bad start you make that work to your advantage and they have a weight on their shoulders.

"Brisbane's not the easiest place. It's hot, muggy and sweaty, but England need to settle and take it by the scruff."

Russell, 47, has bad memories of his only Test appearance at The Gabba, where Australia have won their last six Tests and not lost since 1988.

Australia put England in back in 1990, won by 10 wickets in a low-scoring match and never looked back en route to a 3-0 series triumph.

But the former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper, who played 54 Tests for England between 1988 and 1998, is more hopeful this time round.

"The exciting thing for me this time is that we've got a group of players who, if they play to their maximum, have got a really good chance," he added.

This is an opportunity to start well and keep them under pressure. I'm talking about their media and the whole nation. There's a lot of pressure on them to do well.

Jack Russell

"We're a better team than them," said Russell, now an executive board member with Gloucestershire, as well as the county's wicketkeeping coach.

"Wherever you play the Aussies it's a tough game, but they've got fragilities in their set-up and, if you can make sure Ricky Ponting doesn't get too many runs, that'll give us a psychological edge.

"They've lost a few games recently, and a lot on the trot which is unusual for them.

"This is an opportunity to start well and keep them under pressure. I'm talking about their media and the whole nation. There's a lot of pressure on them to do well.

"If we can heap some more pressure on them from the start that will be a good thing. Don't let them get a good start.

"It's just about delivering it on the day.

"You know when you play the Aussies that they're going to go up a gear or two because it is the ultimate.

"I played in one here and one down there and there's nothing like it. It's an amazing experience."

Russell figured in two series against Australia, at home in 1989 and 18 months later down under, when he was dropped after three Tests as England brought in Alec Stewart to beef up their batting.

On that tour, under Graham Gooch, England's frontline batsmen notched up more ducks than centuries. And Russell's main concern ahead of England's efforts to win a series down under for the first time since the 1986/87 series is inconsistent batting.

"Our batters have got to get some big runs," said Russell, who was part of Duncan Fletcher's team behind the scenes in the Ashes triumph of 2005.

"Every Test match one or two guys have got to get a big score and, if that happens, then we've got a great chance because we've got some good bowlers and we can bowl them out."

Listen to the Ashes live on Test Match Special on BBC 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW and online (UK users only) - series starts 25 November 2010.Archive: Relive past Ashes series