The Ashes: Aussie mind games smack of desperation

You can tell the state Australia are in when they resort to mind games. But in my experience those that shout the loudest generally have a bit of inner doubt and are trying to prove to people they are confident.

At this stage Australia are trying to send the message they are confident and have the belief to win the Ashes. My advice to them is that the best way to do that is to concentrate on performances on the pitch - and leave the talking to one side. Let the Aussie press write them up and England off.

Clarke's team should just concentrate on next week and getting it right on the field from ball one. All this talk and headlines from players, coaches and ex-players will mean nothing from next Thursday. The great Australian sides of the past never really bothered with such tactics. Glenn McGrath's 5-0 prediction was a bit of a laugh really and was treated that way by both sides.

But this time England have been hit with comments from all sorts of people: former players have had their say, the coach Darren Lehmann has been stirring the pot for months and Michael Clarke thought he would 'announce' the England team on Tuesday.

It is all designed to destabilise England before the first ball is bowled at the Gabba next week. Australia are doing everything they can to stop England getting decent practice. It is a little bit sad and smacks of desperation. That also extends to the teams they are fielding in these warm-up games. They should have put out a strong XI against England at the SCG this week and play the game honourably rather than picking a fifth-string side mainly full of little-known players. They should be giving England quality practice rather than resorting to such tactics. Look at the 1990s.

We would go to Australia and play teams containing the likes of Lehmann, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill and Matthew Hayden. It would feel like a Test match and the Aussies saw it as a chance to get one over England before the series started. Now they think the best way to disrupt England is by picking poor sides. It shows how times have changed. So far England have just gone about their business in Australia.

Alastair Cook reacted well to Shane Warne's criticism and England have kept their counsel. In a dressing room I was always worried and wary of the quiet ones: they were the assassins. England have won the last three Ashes campaigns by saying very little, and concentrating on the cricket. Australia should take note.