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Andrew Strauss has been "found out" in Ashes cricket and Australia are ready to exploit that in the forthcoming series, claim pace bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark.
Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has already revealed that targeting Strauss is a key part of his plan to retain the Ashes, and seamers Lee and Clark have now turned up the heat on the England skipper by claiming they have figured out his weaknesses.
After scoring two centuries in England's 2005 Ashes win, Strauss struggled in the following series, which Australia won 5-0 to regain the Urn in the most emphatic fashion possible.
And with the first Test in Cardiff only 13 days away, Lee and Clark have cranked up the pressure on Middlesex opener Strauss.
"He probably got found out a little bit in Australia in 06-07," said Clark, who is part of the Australian side taking on Sussex in the on-going four-day tour match at Hove.
"I have looked at some footage and there are some definite things that we as a bowling group have talked about, and we're going to keep talking about.
"Being captain, there is a lot of pressure on him right now. If we can get after him early in the series, we can create some pressure that he doesn't need with his batting."
Strauss also struggled against Lee's express pace during the 2005 Ashes, being hit on the helmet by the experienced paceman on more than one occasion.
Lee said: "I'm happy with the record I've got against Straussy. I'll be looking forward to playing against him, if I get the opportunity.
"He is a hard batsman to bowl to but hopefully I'll put the success I've had against him to the back of my memory and be able to use it during the Ashes series."
Meanwhile, former England paceman Matthew Hoggard is a target for Worcestershire, who are looking to strengthen their bowling department with a question mark remaining over the future of knee injury victim Simon Jones.
Hoggard, 32, is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
