English media backs team to retain Ashes urn in winter Ashes despite Oz's 'home advantage'

The English media has said that home advantage will count for nothing for Australia in the winter Ashes despite having home advantage as they have fallen far behind England, who thrashed them 3-0 in the summer series.

According to the Mirror, although the common belief is that England should face a tough series in Australia even if they win them, but there is a possibility that this series may turn out to be similar to the last time they played in Australia, when they delivered a complete hammering.

The report said that even though Australia had had a natural advantage in 2010/11 as they played in familiar, home conditions, England had better players like Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood and out performed the home team, adding that Ben Stokes and Gary Balance might boosts England's chances in the series this time.

As England set off on their tour today, they will be feeling confident, well rested and buoyed by a lucrative new set of contracts that will have them earning the sort of money their Australian counterparts have enjoyed for a while, the report added.