It's been one-way traffic in the Ashes since 1989.

Australia have held the trophy ever since and the squad - described in one Sydney newspaper as the greatest ever in Ashes history - is now on its way to Britain.

Australia's comprehensive 4-0 victory in England in 1989 marked the Green and Gold's resurgence as a world cricketing power and the beginning of the dominance over the old enemy.

At one stage England were so bad, it was suggested the series be trimmed back to just three Test matches.

There's a genuine sense of relief Down Under that English cricket has finally got its act together after so many inept performances during those dark years.

Fight harder

The former Australian captain Mark Taylor believes this series will be the toughest for a long time.

He said: "England are playing a lot better cricket and Australia will have to fight a lot harder because I know England will fight much harder this time around, which is a good thing.

"It's going to be packed out and England are playing well, so it's going to be good cricket."

Special feeling

Mark Taylor agrees. He says getting a seat on the plane to England is the most important thing for any Aussie cricketer.

"It has a special feeling about it," said Taylor.

It's always a very good trip to be on. It's the tour you want to make.

"When you hear your name called out you punch the air saying 'you beauty, I'm on the Ashes tour!'"

England's win over Pakistan in the first Test has been widely covered and admired here in Australia.

Darren Gough and Graham Thorpe are considered prize assets in a team considered capable of upsetting the tourists.

Australia's most potent force is its pace attack. Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie will be supported by Brett Lee.

The 25-year-old quick is delighted to be part of the squad after undergoing elbow surgery earlier this year.

He said: "I'm flabbergasted. It's going to be a great experience going over there with packed crowds playing against our old enemies. How much better can cricket get?"

Lee says unlike recent Ashes series, this one could go down to the wire.

"The Poms have been playing some good cricket and you can never write them off. There has been heaps of talk that we might whitewash them.

"I think it'll be a lot closer than people think but it would be nice to win 5-0!"