England will struggle against 'better' Australian side in home conditions, says Salman Butt

Pakistan skipper Salman Butt reckons that England’s bowlers would struggle in Australia’s ‘generally less swing friendly conditions’ during the Ashes Down Under. 

The message came after the Pakistan team edged past England with a four-wicket victory in the third Test at The Oval. 

“If this is the England bowling in Australian conditions then they will find it hard,” The Independent quoted Butt, as saying.

“I think the conditions here have favoured England. But anywhere else you play then obviously the Australian team has the edge because the nature of their cricket is to attack teams, and the only way to beat them is to counterattack,” he added.

The 25-year-old further predicted a tough time for Andrew Strauss’ men, saying that the Australians would put in a much better performance in their home conditions.

“I’ve still some time to spend here in England, but I think my little experience says that the Aussies are a much better side in their home conditions than they were over here in the Ashes because the ball comes on and it doesn’t swing as much,” Butt said. 

England will take on Australia in the Ashes series in November, where they have not won a Test series since 1986/87.

The first of the five match series will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from November 25 to 29.

It will be followed by Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

Two Twenty20 clashes and a seven-match one-day series have also been scheduled between Australia and England.