Opening bowler Matthew Hoggard will be key to England's hopes when the Ashes series begins next week, according to Hampshire's Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

Warne said today: "A lot depends on Hoggard - if he plays well, then England have a good chance of knocking us over."

Hoggard did not play a part in England's draw with Western Australia this week, as pace men Simon Jones and Steve Harmison were put through their paces.

Jones took five wickets in the match but Warne says that the Welshman remains something of an unknown quantity, even for England.

"Andrew Caddick has never played in Australia, Darren Gough is injured and there are a couple of raw quicks, so we don't know how they'll get on," Warne went on.

"But Australian conditions will suit Hoggard - he pitches it up, swings it andbowls at a good pace."

Warne's optimistic words were a stark contrast to his comments to a Brisbane newpaper, headlined "We can thump the Poms 5-0."

"We in the Australian team have no doubt that if we play to our ability, we are man-for-man better than the English," he wrote. "None of them would get into our side, so everything points to a whitewash."