OUTSPOKEN former Australian captain Ian Chappell is convinced this summer's Ashes series can be distilled down to one key battle - Shane Warne v Andrew Flintoff.

And Chappell believes the Hampshire captain will easily keep England's middle-order talisman in check.

"Warne's biggest attribute will be his ability to keep Flintoff in check," Chappell said.

"While Flintoff has the ability to play Gilchrist-like innings against other teams, he won't be able to batter Warne into submission.

"Also, Warne won't allow the England lower order any peace of mind to ensure Flintoff's contributions are minimal."

Flintoff is expected to have fully recovered from winter ankle surgery to make his Ashes debut in the first Test at Lord's on July 21.

He missed selection in England in 2001 and was sidelined for the entire 2002-03 series in Australia with a groin injury.

This time around England supporters are pinning their hopes on Flintoff to stop Australia winning a record eighth consecutive Ashes series.

The Lancashire master blaster came of age in the Test arena as a batsman last year, hitting two centuries and seven half-centuries as well as three one-day international tons.

But Chappell insists that whilst the Flintoff versus Warne battle will make compulsive viewing, he can only see one winner.

"Flintoff's massive hitting hasn't been tested against a spinner of Warne's calibre and it'll be interesting to see whether his aggressive approach wins against Warne's cerebral magic," he explained.

"Flintoff has blossomed in the last 18 months and is a genuine box-office hit but he'll meet a real challenge against Warne.

"West Indies' part-time spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan dismissed Flintoff twice in the first three innings he faced him.

"This will be encouraging to Warne and I expect his artistry to overcome Flintoff's butchery and contribute to Australia winning the Ashes once more."

Chappell's former teammate and England's current academy coach Rod Marsh agrees with his ex-skipper's assessment.

"If you want to talk about the fundamental difference between the two teams you've just got to look at Warne and McGrath, with 1,000 Test wickets between them, and then you go wherever you want to go," Marsh said.