Wednesday 17 June 2015 15:29, UK
Australia's cricket team have arrived in London three weeks ahead of the opening Ashes Test of the summer.
The tourists, who touched down at Gatwick Airport shortly after 9am on Wednesday, are in buoyant mood as they look to regain the famous urn having just wrapped up a comfortable 2-0 Test series victory in the West Indies - a team that drew with England just two months ago.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann admitted on Tuesday he was facing a "massive headache" concerning selection with his pace bowlers for the Ashes opener in Cardiff on July 8.
Frontline pacemen consistently ripped into the West Indies batsmen during the two matches with Josh Hazlewood named man of the series after snaring 12 wickets, while left-armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson also shone.
Ryan Harris - rested for the Caribbean tour - and Peter Siddle will also be knocking on the door to be chosen as one of the team's fast bowlers.
Lehmann said: "Two of those five guys are going to be unbelievably unlucky to miss out, but that's what happens when you're playing good cricket. You have to make those hard decisions."
Before the opening Test against England, the Aussies face Kent and Essex in warm-up matches.
Australia haven’t won an Ashes series in England since 2001, which is quite a long time, so we have to realise our strengths
Australia have a poor record in recent years in England, winning two Tests out of 15 in the last decade, but they will be clear favourites because of their recent form and having crushed England 5-0 in the last series.
Lehman added; "It's been two years since our last Ashes tour and there's a big change in mindset for me personally and the team compared to when were there in 2013.
"The guys are definitely in a better space than they were two years ago. We're really close as a team and we know what we have to do on and off the ground to achieve our goals."
England will also be in better spirits having produced a positive and explosive performance under new coach Trevor Bayliss (also an Australian) in a thrilling two-match drawn series against New Zealand.
England's paceman Stuart Broad said: "Australia are in fantastic form but we also have to remember that our record in England is really good.
"Australia haven’t won an Ashes series in England since 2001, which is quite a long time, so we have to realise our strengths. We can’t fear the Australians, we can’t build the Australians up to be something they’re not.
“We have to go into the Ashes Series with a lot of belief that we can win that and perform to our ability. I think if we perform to the best of our ability we will be right up there.”
Watch the first Ashes Test on July 8 from 10am on Sky Sports 2
