England could be as good as our great Australian: Shane Warne

When you compare the best Australian team I played in and this England side there is surprisingly little to choose between some individuals. It is hard to make direct comparisons because my team-mates all played about 80-100 Tests each, whereas some of these England guys have only featured in 20 or 30 matches. But England also have some players who have played lots of Tests in a short space of time rather than over a 10-year period.

This England side could become equal to all those Australian players and as a team. All the signs are good for England. They have all the ingredients in place to dominate.

In Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook they have solidity. Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan add unorthodoxy, variety and quick scoring. Then look at the bowlers. They can stick to and execute plans brilliantly. But they also bat well. They score fast and their bowling has variety. James Anderson, Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad are all good fielders too. There is no weak link. It is a great time to be involved in English cricket.

If you look at the great West Indies and Australia teams they may have lost the odd series but they dominated most of the time. That is the model. England need to be as consistent over next two years home and away before they can be truly compared to some of the great sides, but the basics and the platform are in place.

The best Australian team I played in was probably during the early 2000s. We had great individuals before, but as a team the early part of the last decade was a special time....Warne