Healy writes off England

Ian Healy: 'I can't see them beating this Australian team in a game' © Getty Images

Ian Healy, the former Australian wicketkeeper, has written off England for the forthcoming Ashes series and believes that they won't win a single Test. Healy cited Australia's recent series against New Zealand as an example where all pre-series talk of hard-fought tussles were laid to rest by a rampaging unit.

"The recent New Zealand tour was highly anticipated by the New Zealand community as well, and 2-0 and 5-0 rings pretty true," said Healy to ABC Sport. "I think that's how the teams stacked up on paper and it happened on results as well. This England team, while they are better and on track, I can't see them beating this Australian team in a game."

Australia inflicted a whitewash in five one-dayers and dominated the Tests before winning 2-0 against New Zealand last month. And though England, who last won the Ashes in 1986-87, have been in terrific form in the last 12 months, Healy didn't give them even the slightest of a chance.

Healy also spoke about Matthew Hayden's prolonged batting slump in Tests. Hayden has failed to score a hundred in his last 12 matches, with his last big innings coming against Sri Lanka in 2004 at Cairns. "He should be fit, he should be fresh and if he doesn't bounce back he's finished," Healy said. "And that's it. It is pretty clear for Haydos right now. It is going to be quite obvious how his appetite is, he's been a little bit bored I think in the last six months of his cricket, and if he gets his appetite back he'll be sweet."

The first of the five Ashes Tests begins at Lord's on July 21. Australia commence their tour of England with a one-day match against Leicestershire on June 11.