test2wa

International Cricket

Adam Voges believes the current England pace attack is just as competent at swinging as the 2005 edition.

Voges, who returned home for the Australia A series after a stint with English county side Nottinghamshire, has seen first hand the sideways movement generated by some of England's quicks.

English pace trio Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Graham Onions all swung the ball diligently in their side's recent 2-0 series win over West Indies.

Broad and Anderson are being touted as guaranteed selections, while 2005 Ashes hero Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom have been doing their best to displace incumbent Onions for the first Test, which starts on July 8 in Cardiff.

Voges was in no doubt that if the ball was moving around, as he expected it would be, the Englishmen would pose a serious threat.

Swinging conditions

"In those conditions, most of the guys get a bit of swing and that's going to be a real key to the series," Voges said.

"I think it's going to be huge to be honest. The guys that they used against the West Indies did really well.

"If English pace bowlers can swing the ball a lot it's going to make for an interesting series.

"They bowled well against the West Indies, but against us I suppose it's a different proposition."

Voges joined Sidebottom and Broad at Nottinghamshire and suggested the former, eyeing up a possible return to the fold after a string of injuries, could well be the surprise package of the upcoming series.

Sidebottom's curly mop of hair and charismatic on-field antics have seen him become a cult figure, but Voges reckons there is a lot more to the 31-year-old than meets the eye.

"He's a bit different, but he's a good guy. The way he conducts himself on the field is always interesting. He's a big, vibrant character which is great for the game.

"He had a few niggles he was trying to get on top of."