By Mark Harrison

MICKEY ARTHUR, the man who coached South Africa to a Test series win in Australia earlier this year, says that England should use Andrew Flintoff as a more attacking bowler against Australia this summer.

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Analysing the series in an exclusive feature for the August issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine, Arthur reckoned Flintoff bowled too negatively against South Africa last year. "I’d like to see him used as a more attacking option because he has the ability to do that," he said.

"I would like to see Flintoff given the licence to attack along with James Anderson, whom we rated very highly when we faced him last year, while Stuart Broad is used as more of a control bowler, who will make the batsmen play and probe away around off stump."

Arthur plumps for Graeme Swann as England’s first choice spinner, saying: "I’ve been very impressed with Graeme Swann, who has convinced me there can be a future for the orthodox offspinner in Test cricket, contrary to popular belief, and mine. He likes to bowl an attacking line which means he might go for more runs, but he will take wickets, especially against the left-handers in Australia’s top order. At the moment he is a better option than Monty Panesar, who had no variation against us in 2008."

His choice as fourth seamer is Ryan Sidebottom, pace and fitness permitting, and he applauds the decision to back Ravi Popara at number three. "England have been bold and made some proper decisions with selection: bringing in Ravi Bopara at No.3 and deciding on a five-man bowling attack with Matt Prior batting at six. There has been total clarity and no room for confusion. Players cannot say they don’t

know where they stand. My concern, though, is that in their quest to take 20 wickets they have put a huge amount of pressure on their five main batters."

Arthur highlights England’s batting as a potentially series-defining area of performance. "For me the key to the series is how well England’s top five do as a unit. It’s a really tough series to call. England are heading in the right direction, and I was impressed with what I saw of Bopara against West Indies, but he’s still relatively untried and there is a huge amount of pressure on Kevin Pietersen. If Australia use the new ball well, then they could put the England top order under a lot of pressure.

"The bowling attacks look pretty even, with England having the edge in the spin department, but I fancy Australia’s top six batsmen over England’s and the Aussies’ line-up that I expect them to pick gives them great batting depth."

Arthur adds: "I’m loth to make a prediction because I think it will be really tight but, on the basis of where England are in their development, I would just go for Australia."

The August issue of The Wisden Cricketer includes a free, 68-page Ashes guide and is on sale at leading outlets from Thursday July 2.

www.thewisdencricketer.com

CHARLIE SAYS: There is a fragile look about England's batting -- that is certainly a worry -- but one wonders whether Flintoff and Sidebottom will last the series injury-wise. Without these two in the attack I don't think we can win the Ashes.