LANCASHIRE'S Ashes trio need look no further than the Old Trafford dressing room if they are searching for tips on how to give England a perfect start against Australia next month.

Sajid Mahmood, Jimmy Anderson and captain Andrew Flintoff will play key roles in England's bid to retain the urn they won so dramatically last year.

But if they are to beat the Aussies Down Under, they have to get off to a good start in the first Test which begins at the Gabba on November 23.

And there aren't too many who know the Brisbane ground better than Lancashire run-machine Stuart Law, who played there for Queensland for 16 years.

Law believes the Gabba track could be ideal for his Red Rose team-mates.

"It is generally humid in Brisbane, so it is a great place for swing bowlers," said Law, who played one Test and 54 one-day internationals for Australia. "But you have to get it in the right place otherwise you will be hit all over the park. The outfield is usually lush, so you can almost certainly rule out reverse swing.

"It also generates good pace and bounce so there are rewards there for the quickies, but it is hard work if you stray off-line.

"It is a good place to play cricket and is a good test of both a bowler's and batsman's ability.

"There has been a lot said in the Champions Trophy about what the England bowlers are doing right and what they are doing wrong, but Saj and Jimmy just need to bowl.

"Saj has got something about him but he is still raw and hasn't played a lot of cricket.

Tough

"Jimmy has been out for six months with a back injury and didn't do too badly in India, which is a tough place to bowl.

"Both can bowl well in Australia and the pace and bounce in Brisbane will help them."

Law may be a Brit now, but it is difficult to shake off over 30 years of being an Aussie. Even so, he has offered his help to the England cause.

"I said tongue-in-cheek a few months back that I would help England if they wanted me too, but I haven't heard anything," said Law. "But the offer still stands.

"Funnily enough, Jimmy has probably played there more than most in the squad. Marcus Trescothick has barely scored a run at Brisbane, while judging by what happened in India Kevin Pietersen will struggle on the front foot. Ian Bell, as well, will find it tough to cope with the short-pitched bowling.

"I have played at the grounds, and I also know both the Aussie players and the English players from my time in county cricket, so if they want some advice then the offer is there."

Law goes under the knife tomorrow to cure a knee injury which hindered his movement during the final few weeks of Lancashire's title challenge, so he is unable to fly out to watch the series. But he will be providing expert analysis on Sky Sports throughout the battle.

And he is relishing watching the tussle, although he believes England have little chance of beating the Aussies on their own turf, despite Ashley Giles yesterday announcing he has now fully recovered from his hip injury.

"Last year's Ashes win was the best thing that could have happened to cricket," said Law. "We had more interest in the game during and after that series than ever before. If England beat Australia in Australia then it would be an outstanding achievement, one bordering on a miracle.

"If Michael Vaughan was there then it would be a different story. He is such a good captain, which he showed last year, but he proved last time he was in Australia that he is a top batsman who can score plenty of runs. "Saying that, if anyone can inspire England it is Freddie.

"I think they have the power in their bowling attack to take wickets, I'm just not sure England's batsmen will be able to put 450 on the board regularly enough."

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