Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Captain Kevin Pietersen's claim that England will give Australia a run for their money simply smacks of overconfidence.
Though Pietersen helped England to a consolation victory against South Africa in his maiden Test as captain, the overall picture is not so bright.
The fact remains that England lost 2-1 to South Africa. With the exception of the last Test, they rarely looked threatening.
There were holes everywhere. The opening slot did not look settled and the middle order was often brittle.
The bowling was inconsistent and points were lost at crucial stages. The South African batsmen ended up leaving the ball more than playing at it.
Instead of bragging about the Ashes which takes place only next year, Pietersen would do well to get his hands on the video tapes of the South African series and find a way to iron out the inadequacies.
He will have plenty to think about. The Australians will already be doing their own research and noting all the shortcomings in their minds.
That the South Africans dominated even with an out-of-form Jacques Kallis and an injured Dale Steyn underlined their determination to win at all costs. Pietersen must learn from that.
Graeme Smith's captaincy had a lot to do with it. Like Pietersen, Smith was brash when he visited England five years ago.
Now more relaxed in the role, Smith overcame injury problems to lead his side by example. His magnificent innings of 154 in the third Test was truly a captain's knock.
England's problems at the top of the order came into sharp focus because Andrew Strauss lost a bit of form while Cook could not convert good starts into big scores.
Batting coach Andy Flower will have to spend a bit more time with Cook because he still has to work on some glaring deficiencies.
With Michael Vaughan's future now in unknown territory, the promotion of Ian Bell to number three on a long-term basis has to be looked at. Bell has sound technique but he needs to develop the appetite for scoring big runs on a consistent basis.
With Paul Collingwood rediscovering his form late in the season, there is enough for England to work with.
Though Flintoff bowled well his batting seemed scratchy and unsure. But he has enough time to get back in form.
The bowlers need to get their rudder right. Hopefully, Ryan Sidebottom will rejuvenate in the winter and add variety to the attack.
The return of Steve Harmison to the England fold is welcome. He has the firepower to take on the Australians.
England have a year to tackle the Ashes campaign. Fortunately, they have at least two fairly tough tours to overcome before that.
India will pose a strong challenge on home soil while the West Indies seem to be getting back in the groove.
This will be a major learning curve for Pietersen and his team. It is bound to make them tougher and more prepared for the Ashes battle.
For now, Pieterson would do well to put a lid on his mouth and let brain and brawn take control.
