<p class="title">Spin legend Shane Warne said Australia are in a state of "confusion" heading into the Ashes series, with England primed for a first Gabba Test boilover.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even amid the massive distraction of the Ben Stokes assault saga, Warne believes it's the tourists who no longer hold any fears about an unsettled Australian cricket team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Australian leg-spin great said Australia are in a shambles with wicketkeeper Tim Paine's surprise selection pointing to a lack of direction from selectors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Paine, chosen for his first Test in seven years, and 34- year-old Shaun Marsh recalled to the Test side for the eighth time, were the controversial selections announced on Friday for next week's first Test in Brisbane.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pundits say Australia's Gabba fortress, where the home side is unbeaten in almost 30 years, is now under threat from an England squad missing their best player all-rounder Stokes, back at home and under investigation over a nightclub brawl.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At the moment, where the biggest shift has come over the last few years is they don't fear Australia anymore," Warne told reporters on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"England no longer fear Australia and haven't for a long time and hence that's why they can beat Australia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"England, I think at the moment, are just going along nicely. They're just doing their business.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Australia look confused. They're picking wicketkeepers that aren't even keeping for their state.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"To me, I think England are in a better situation going into that first Test match than what Australia are."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Television commentating veteran Bill Lawry agreed with Warne that Australia is missing a Mitchell Johnston-styled intimidator, despite Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins capable of bowling fast.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think the big key to this Ashes series is Mitchell Johnson and he's not playing," Lawry said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If I was an opening batsman I wouldn't be losing too much sleep facing the Australian pace attack.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They're all good bowlers but they're not going to frighten you."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former Test captain Michael Clarke said the Australian team was unsure about their playing style heading into the five-Test series.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Warne is predicting the Ashes series to be the hardest-fought and most dramatic since the iconic 2005 campaign, which England famously won in a fifth-Test decider.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The leg-spinning great said both sides are weak because they rely too much on two players -- Australia on David Warner and Steve Smith and England on Alastair Cook and Joe Root.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It will get down to how those guys bat," said Warne.</p>
<p class="title">Spin legend Shane Warne said Australia are in a state of "confusion" heading into the Ashes series, with England primed for a first Gabba Test boilover.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even amid the massive distraction of the Ben Stokes assault saga, Warne believes it's the tourists who no longer hold any fears about an unsettled Australian cricket team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Australian leg-spin great said Australia are in a shambles with wicketkeeper Tim Paine's surprise selection pointing to a lack of direction from selectors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Paine, chosen for his first Test in seven years, and 34- year-old Shaun Marsh recalled to the Test side for the eighth time, were the controversial selections announced on Friday for next week's first Test in Brisbane.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pundits say Australia's Gabba fortress, where the home side is unbeaten in almost 30 years, is now under threat from an England squad missing their best player all-rounder Stokes, back at home and under investigation over a nightclub brawl.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At the moment, where the biggest shift has come over the last few years is they don't fear Australia anymore," Warne told reporters on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"England no longer fear Australia and haven't for a long time and hence that's why they can beat Australia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"England, I think at the moment, are just going along nicely. They're just doing their business.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Australia look confused. They're picking wicketkeepers that aren't even keeping for their state.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"To me, I think England are in a better situation going into that first Test match than what Australia are."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Television commentating veteran Bill Lawry agreed with Warne that Australia is missing a Mitchell Johnston-styled intimidator, despite Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins capable of bowling fast.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think the big key to this Ashes series is Mitchell Johnson and he's not playing," Lawry said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If I was an opening batsman I wouldn't be losing too much sleep facing the Australian pace attack.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They're all good bowlers but they're not going to frighten you."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former Test captain Michael Clarke said the Australian team was unsure about their playing style heading into the five-Test series.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Warne is predicting the Ashes series to be the hardest-fought and most dramatic since the iconic 2005 campaign, which England famously won in a fifth-Test decider.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The leg-spinning great said both sides are weak because they rely too much on two players -- Australia on David Warner and Steve Smith and England on Alastair Cook and Joe Root.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It will get down to how those guys bat," said Warne.</p>