Australian captain Steve Waugh believes that despite England's recent run of success, his side are still the favourites for the forthcoming Ashes series against England.

Waugh was speaking at the tourists' first press conference, held at Worcester this morning before the squad embarked on a training season at the sun-drenched New Road ground.

Waugh, who turns 36 on Saturday, also conceded that it would almost certainly be the last tour of England for him, and for several of his colleagues.

"Common sense tells you you're not going to play when you're 40 and above - although Graham Gooch did it which was a great achievement - but the time will come when the squad will change pretty dramatically over the next couple of years.

"This is a significant tour for a lot of us in that it is probably our last tour to England. From a personal point of view I want to really enjoy this tour, and soak up the atmosphere in every game we play and every day on tour."

"When you're young you think that it is going to last forever, but when you get towards the end of your career you want to make everything more special so that is the attitude I am going to take.

"I am going to really enjoy every Test, every game and every one-dayer and just soak up what an England tour is all about."

Waugh is expecting a closely-contested series after England's recent run of success at home and abroad.

"We're looking forward to playing England. They've done very well in recent times, they've got a good side, very together and they seem pretty tough.

"They've won some good matches on the sub-continent, which is not easy to do. But they're going to come up against a pretty good Australian side."

He added: "We've had some good results against England. A lot of their personnel hasn't changed so from our point of view, if we get on top early, we can perhaps open some old scars up."

Waugh's comments were echoed by Australia's coach John Buchanan. "I don't think there is any question that Australia should be number one. Obviously England's current form is good - they should be up at the top somewhere."

And Australia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist also has a healthy respect for England. "It seems they're heading in the right direction, with some positive results and a lot of support behind them. Who knows what they might do?"

Australia meet Worcestershire at New Road for a three-day game in the Vodafone Challenge Series which starts on Friday.

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